WTC Daily Report Memo, Oct 17, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document Fax: Oct 17 2001 22:14 P.03 10/17/01 i7:gi FAl 21: .11? 2371 XfSDOL OSHa 0001/001

O5HA SAMPLING RESULTS Si JMMARY AS OP 10/16/01

Asbestos; A total of 478 air aomtoriag samples for asbestos have been taken. Prom 9/13 -9/22, , 177 samples were taken in the financial district They were taken on OSHA personnel as they walked within certain predetenoised zones. Results revealed asbestos concentrations rangitxg ftomND to .037 f/cc., well below OSHA's permissible • expesuTB limit CP&) of 1 f'ce. After 9'22, sampling focused on the rabble pile (the keystone area of the map) where 32 of 210 sanmies exceeded OSHA’s limit via PCM analysis. Howler, upon further analysis using discriminating counting methods ead/or lEM analy’sis, the number of asbestos fibers found dropped dramatically to below detectable levels or well below .1 fZcc. Samplins at Pier 25 where trucks caHvins debris are being off loaded by crane to barge revealed no detectable asbestos •J

Carboa Monoxide; Thirty one personul sample? for workers on the rubble pile showed results rangag &om 1 ppm to 34 ppm well below the OSHA 50 ppm permissible exposure limit Noise! OSHA has been conductiag noise uioniioniig io die rabble pile (the keystone area of the map). Three personal samples have been conducted on employees performing (or working near) various operationa such as Jack hanuaering. Employee’s exposure to noise ranged from $8 dBA to 89 dBA. OSHA’a pennissible noise exposure limit for oonstiucnon is 9o dBA. Silica: As of October 16“, foe overwhelming majority of foe 159 silica samples show no detectable levels of airborne silica. The highest sample result was approximately twice foe OSHA limit, whereas the next highest level was less than half of limit. Both of these levels were found on personnel working in foe rabble pile, an area where OSHA continues to encourage foe use of respiratory protection. Volatile OrjnoJc Compounds: As of October 16“', OSHA has taken 120 samples for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as acetaldehyde, acxylcoutrile, acrolda, benzene, 2-butanoae, chlorodiphenyl (PCB), dioxin, ethyl berueoe, foonaldehyde. hexone, isocyonates. pr’chloroefoylene, st^eae, toluene, trichloroefoyieae, vinyl chloride and ^lene. Screening samples initially showed elevated levels of some organic chemicals reraltrng from foe fires bunting in foe rubble pile. Subsequent personal samples at breafoiag zone level and area samples show worker exposure levels to be below OSHA limits. However, one personal sample result for benzene wm found at foe 8hr OSHA allowable limit conccatration of Ippnt This exposure was found on a backhoe operator moving debris on foe pile. Metals: OSHA has taken 218 air samples to monitor worker exposures to dusts, fumes, oxides, and other compounds of metals such as antimonv, beryllium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, molybdcuum, nickel,'vanadium, zinc, cadmium, magnesium, arsenic, and mercury. Results from these samples arc pmeraJy well below the applicable OSHA limits. However, torch cutting and burning structural steel at foe pile have resulted in instances of over-n^cure as follows; copper (6); iron oxide (6j; lead (1); and cadmium (3). Accordingly, OSHA is recommending that workers engaged in these operations continue to wear appropriate respiratory protection.

Other Analysis: OSHA has sampled for dioxin, isocyanates, pc lynuc Itsted aromatics and oxides of *T- aitro'gca. AnalyslG is pendiog.

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