ATSDR/DHAC protocol for ambient and surface dust sampling near WTC,

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

recently re-occupied residential areas. Residents in south Battery Park, who left windows open prior to the WTC collapse, have settled dust in their homes. Some have disposed of furniture, stereo equipment, etc., because they were covered with “ash and dust.” Homes in the Tribeca zone (Chambers Street to Murray Street, west of Broadway) are not yet occupied, but were reported to have roofs covered with hand-sized chunks of insulation-like material that contain small pieces of mica-like material. In addition, the mica-like material has clogged roof drains and resulted in standing pools of water on residential roof tops. Finally, streets, sidewalks and other open spaces are periodically cleaned (HEPA vacuum trucks) and wetted (water trucks). However, the resident and others have reported swirling dust throughout the area.

II. Sampling Objective:

The overall objective of this sampling is to provide results upon which public health agencies can determine the potential for environmental exposures to WTC collapse-related materials and possible health implications of the exposures. Sampling will characterize ambient and indoor airborne and potentially airborne particles (surface dust) that remain in residential areas and commercial areas of lower Manhattan from the collapse of the World Trade Center. Specifically, the objective is:

Characterize the make-up and size distribution of settled dust and airborne breathing zone dust in residential areas-both indoors and outside-near the WTC. This information will be used to determine if materials are present in air at levels of public health concern; and if materials are present in settled surface dust that can be re-entrained and result in continued exposures.

Sample locations will be selected in a concentric circle pattern, starting close to the WTC and ending in neighboring boroughs. Section V, Residence Selection/Sampling rationale, of this protocol describes this approach.

III. Data and Quality Assurance:

Co-located samples will be collected in 10% of the air samples. While not a true duplicate, evaluation of the results will provide some information on the variability of contaminants in air.

At least two field blanks (or 10% of samples submitted, whichever is greater) per sample location will be submitted with the air samples. Blank cassettes should be opened at the same time as the sample cassettes are opened (just prior to sampling). Blank cassettes and their covers should be stored in a clean area (e.g., closed bag or box) with the covers from the sampling cassettes during the sampling period.

Each air sampling pump will be calibrated with a representative sampling device in-line before and after sample collection. Sample flow rates will be documented in the sampling log. The average of pre- and post-calibration flow rates will be used as the sample flow rate, for sample

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