Air Quality Particulate Matter Fact Sheet, NYC, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

DRAFT 10/17/01 @11:30 a.m. of particles in the home. The range of activities that introduce particles into the air (e.g. smoking, cooking, candle and incense burning, and cleaning) coupled with a home’s ventilation status (which could remove or introduce particles) will determine airborne particle concentrations in a home at a specific time.

Recommendations:

The Environmental Assessment Workgroup is providing the following recommendations to help people reduce their exposure to particulate matter and make well-informed decisions about their health.

1. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and young children, should avoid prolonged exposure to dust and suspended particles.

When dust and smoke are present outdoors, limit time outdoors. Avoid physical exertion, indoors or outdoors, when dust or smoke levels are high. Consult with your physician to determine if you should be cleaning up any dust from the WTC that may have entered your home. If you have symptoms of heart or lung disease, including shortness of breath, chest tightness, chest pain, palpitations or unusual fatigue, contact your phusician. If you have asthma, bronchitis or other lung diseases, or cardiovascular disease make sure you have adequate medication on hand. In addition, if you have asthma, follow your asthma management plan.

2. People having symptoms (including those who have not been diagnosed with respiratory or heart disease), such as shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty taking a full breath, painful breathing or persistent cough, should contact a physician. Be aware that onset of symptoms can appear even 24 to 48 hours after exposure.

3. In the home, car and workplace, keep windows and doors closed during hazy days or if dust is on the streets or entrances and/or smoke is in the air. Keep air conditioning turned on and use the recycle/recirculate mode on your air conditioner. Inspect and change air filters and air conditioning filters as needed. When the air quality improves, you should open up and air out your homes.

4. If your home has dust or suspended particles as a result of the WTC collapse, you should consider steps to minimize your exposure. If you decide to clean the dust yourself, the following suggestions can help to reduce the opportunities for dust to re-enter the air.

A regular vacuum cleaner will clean dusty areas, furniture, and carpeting but small particles will pass through the vacuum and re-enter the air. Alternatively, using a High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) vacuum without a beater bar is an

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