WTC Q and A document transmission, March 25 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

A: If you’d like to participate in a health registry call the NYC Hotline (212-221-8635) - they are taking information for a future registry.

Category; studies fUC-Davis. ATSDR)

Q. Why did EPA not test for ultrafine particles, as were tested for in the UC Davis study?

EPA has been studying ultrafines over the past several years and there is not any scientific evidence that links these ultra-fine particles - less than 1 micron in diameter - with health effects. EPA continues to look at these particles and the additional information provided by the UC Davis study will contribute to the growing body of knowledge about ultrafines.

Q. What additional work will be done on the ATSDR/DOH study? Will more apartments be tested or will you retest the ones you already tested?

A. In addition, New York City Department of Health (NYCDOH), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and EPA are planning to build on the indoor air study conducted in November and December 2001. This may include followup monitoring or recommendations for fiirther cleaning.

Category; database

Q. What is the status of the database? Have you seen any trends yet? What sub­ populations are you looking at e.g., workers in the building at the time of the impacts, cleanup workers, children living in the area?

A. EPA has developed a database that houses data from all agencies and are in the process of making this system available to the public (ARE WE?). EPA data can be obtained from or website and other agencies also have their data posted on their web sites. From our review of the data, in the long term - EPA does not anticipate any increased risk from exposure to WTC material for residents and office workers from the ambient air. Removing the dust from within your apartment and from your building will reduce any risk that may exist from the indoor apartment. We have continuously informed workers at the WTC site to wear respiratory protection to reduce their risks of exposure to contaminants from the site. In the short term - individuals have experienced irritation and a worsening of existing respiratory conditions due to the WTC dust.

Q. Who can explain what the data means?

A. EPA has professional staffers who can explain the data. If you call our Asbestos hotline or the Superfund ombudsman in Region 2, your questions can be answered. (Do we want to send people to the asbestso hotline - do they know about WTC?)

Category; miscellaneous

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