Memo regarding EPA-DEP air quality survey findings, July 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

SURVEY FOUND RESIDENTS WANTED MORE AIR QUALITY INFORMATION AND DID NOT USE RECOMMENDED CLEANING PROCEDURES

From October 25 through November 1, 2001, NYCDOH conducted a door-to-door survey of residents in Lower Manhattan’s Battery Park City, Southbridge Towers, and Independence Plaza. All of these neighborhoods were in close proximity to the WTC towers. A representative sample of apartments from each of these three areas was selected and a total of 414 interviews were conducted. The survey reached two conclusions related to air quality:

a. Residents of Lower Manhattan were worried about their health and safety. There was a tremendous concern about the air quality and its potential effects on health. The high proportion of the population experiencing symptoms likely to be related to respiratory irritants contributed to this concern.

b. The majority of households had not been cleaned to recommendations, possibly increasing the exposure to respiratory irritants. Specifically, in regard to air quality information, the report noted that:

The topics of most interest to this population related to air quality, its safety and its effect on the physical health of both adults and children (70% said they wanted more information about air quality). There is a needfor more information regarding the potential risks from exposure to the dust and debris that continues to be emittedffom the WTC site. Related to this topic, 35% of the respondents reported that they needed more information regarding cleaning.

The report noted that only 40 percent of the residents reported cleaning their homes according to the recommended methods of wet moping hard surfaces and using HEPA vacuums on carpeting. This occurred despite the enomous. amount .of publicity, and inform^^ provided to residents by the media, and City. State and Federal agencies and attempts by the City and EPA to widely disseminate information concerning indoor cleaning of residences The study did not report whether residents wore air purifying respirators when cleaning their apartments ,--a precaution-not-reeommended- in--early-government-commumeations -but -one-that -experts -we e©ntaeted-said-sh©uld-4iave-been-FecoHHnended7“

The report noted two limitations on its results. First, the survey only included three selected neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan and did not include residents who had not re-occupied their apartments at the time of the survey. Second, the report noted that normally respiratory symptoms increase during the time of year the survey was conducted.

The issue of whether residents should wear respiratory protection when cleaning their apartments was discussed at various meetings attended by New York City officials. EPA officials and officials from the NIOSH. B.ot.h,..pnorto proyiding guidancelojesidents and..while the cleaning process was in progress, the consensus, with no opposition, was that respiratory protection was not warranted during these cleaning events. However, in preparing this report. experts contacted by the EPA now believe that this precaution should have been recommended.

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