DEP Press Advisory on Deer Hunting Cancellation, October 2, 2001

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I o o o cn ro cn 00 N.Y. can breathe free ■D c CT o' ■D o 3. 91 O o o c 3 By BARBARA HOFFMAN Health experts say ^ir qualily’s OK distance of about 3 feet. There are usually only a few hundred CD

0 NE of the big health con­ grains of pollen, and any of it, cerns in the aftermath of landing on the nose, will induce last Tuesday’s destruc­ tion of the World Trade Center was the damage all that dust and smoke after World Trade (tenter disaster cials worried that residents immature lungs] were r lore sus- ______________ more SHSceptib^ to pollution in an allergic reaction.” Dust from downtown may irri­ tate sensitive respiratory sys- terns further, but the key trig- sKenlrerd'^who ’s could do to people’s lungs. would Inhale large quantity of ceptible on Tuesday to vhatever As the Twin Towers collapsed generel - Lj. whS hn.e em- C’ileSg’Xkrf airborne particles of asbestos, particulates were in thi air. But and sent a wave of soot cascad­ which can cause cancer and the danger now has pasi ed.” physema or asthma may want asthma and allergy patients ing through downtown, victims other maladies. Still, many people urere left to see their doctors if they’re for the last week were left covered in dense, pow­ But the city’s Board of Health choking and gasping foi air. The dery ash. Many needed to be iic.ql .. . we don’t have in- said its readings showed there best remedy, said the esperts, is than usual. formation about every detail treated for smoke inhalation. was very little asbestos in the to drink lots of water. In some cases, he said, people about the composition of the Experts feared serious air­ air. “Ei^t glasses a day, ’ recom- may be suffering psychosomatic ^moke and dust cloud [that en- quality problems, but they now Besides, said Dr. Murray Rog­ mended Rogers. “Lung< are sup- symptoms triggered by Tues- vcloped lower Manhattan], say the general public can ers, chief of pulmonology at posed to be soft, supple and day’s trauma. But he added, every indication we’ve had so breathe easy — there is little Lenox Hill Hospital, “with asbes­ moist, and hydrating yourself “Don’t readily discount any far from city officials have been threat of any lingering health tos, you need a lot of exposure will keep them froni getting coughing or anything else as very reassuring.” hazards. over a long period of time before dry.” psychosomatic. If you’re feeling The U.S. Department of Health “We anticipated a big prob­ you suffer any adverse effect Of course, those aidiig in the ill, see a doctor, if only to set and Human Services confirmed lem,’’ said Dr. Gillian Shepherd, This didn’t happen. The area rescue effort need to hike every your mind at ease.” that the health risk from the an allergy-immunology special­ was evacuated and those large precaution to protei t them­ If people seem to be sneezing smoking remains of the towers ist at Weill Cornell Medical particles fell to the ground. selves, Rogers said. and coughing more this week, it poses little risk to the general Center-New York Presbyterian Then the rain washed the air.” That includes weari ig masks has less to do with the World public; nor is there a risk, the Hospital. “But thank heavens, it Rogers said a bigger threat was at all times and changing them Trade Towers disaster and more agency added, from the decom- didn’t happen.” posed by hot fumes that may when necessary, since liters are to do with the time of the year, posing remains under the rub- Of top concern was asbestos, a have harmed victims’ lungs and effective only so long. said Shepherd. ble. synthetic insulation that is now tracheae. Rescuers working a1 the site “I was just looking at today’s For more information about banned but may have been used “Certainly, older people, peo­ should launder their clothing pollen counts,” she said yester- dust, debris and asbestos, visit in the construction of the World ple with chroTfi<: ''Hing disease well to keep from spreading the day, “and . they’re more than the HHS Web site at Trade Center in the 1970s. Offi- and ycrting-[who have dust. 5,000 per ciibie meter of air, a www.hhs.gov.

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