NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document
1-24-02 ; 1 2 ; 30PM ; NYC Law Department: ;12123618765 # 12/ 55
UbtH UNIT RM. 7345 202 324 9235 P.00/43
Industrial Hygiene Survey Federal Bureau of Investigation, Staten Island, NY
3.0 Survey Methods
Personal exposure monitoring was conducted for fibers in air, respirable silica dust, total dust,
heavy metals including lead, and volatile organic compounds. Personal sampling pumps were
attached to a representative number of workers and were used to collect air from the breathing
zone of the worker. The samplers were calibrated in the field with a rotameter, which was
calibrated against a Gilibrator (bubblemeter). The personal samples give the best indication of
the level of exposure to the worker. A small numb«iimfi.area samples were also collected. In
most cases these were taken along the perimeterwork zone in order to verify that
respirators were not required in clean areas. In some cases the area samples were taken within
the debris field. The following summarizes the analytical methods used for this survey:
1 Asbestos
Fibers in air were collected on 25 millimeter mixed cellulose ester filters at flow rates between
1.2 to 2.0 liters per minute (LPM). The samples were analyzed following the National Institute
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of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 7400 by the Federal Occupational Health
Environmental Lab located in Denver Colorado. Some of the samples were selected for
additional analysis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) following the NIOSH method
7402. Sample results are reported in fibers per cubic meter of air (f/cc).
Asbestos bulk samples were also analyzed for asbestos content using polarizing light microscopy
and additional analysis was done on selected samples using TEM. Results are reported in %
asbestos by weight.
Metals
Each sample was collected on mixed cellulose ester 37-millimeter filters. The sample was
collected using personal sampling pumps operated at 2.0 liters per minute. The sample media
was prepared and analyzed by Galson Laboratories of Syracuse New York. They are an
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) accredited lab. Results are reported in
milligrams of metal contaminant per cubic centimeter of air (mg/M3). For some of the samples
metals scan was performed for 23 metals using inductively coupled plasma.
Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds were collected using charcoal tubes and personal samplers operated
at a flow rate of 0.2 liters per minute. The samples were analyzed by the Galson Laboratory
using gas chromatography. Results are reported in micrograms of contaminant per sample.
Total Dust
Total dust samples were collected on 37 millimeter, 5 micron preweighed polyvinyl chloride
filters at a flow rate of 2 1pm. The samples were prepared and analyzed by Galson Laboratory.
Results are reported in milligrams per cubic meter.
Respixabie Dust
Respirable dust samples were collected on 37 millimeter; 5 micron preweighed polyvinyl
chloride filters. The cassettes were mounted in a nylon cyclone (MSA) and respirable dust was
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NYC-WTC_000152569
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