Asbestos fiber analysis and carpet cleaning recommendations, April 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Gilsenan, Michael From: Jeanine Prudhomme [email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, April 02. 2002 12:59 PM To: Caroline Bragdon; Christopher D'Andrea; Jim Miller; Kelly McKinney; Nancy Jeffery; Roger Hayes; Vincent Coluccio; [email protected] Cc: m ichaelgi@dep. nyc.gov Subject: Re: DOH Referral from hotline

With respect to Vince's comment, the analytical method may not have differentiated "other" airborne fibers from asbestos fibers (the PCM-TEM issue). That’s also a high number if it is an air sample! Ther must be a missed decimal point. Can DEP check whether or not her building owner has provided data on testing and cleaning of common areas? If not, could DEP visit the building?

We have not issued any advisories requiring that carpets are removed and replaced, I have stated in the past that only those items which cannot be cleaned in a satisfactory manner be discarded as municipal solid waste. In this case, "satisfactory" means by knowledge of extent of original contamination and visual observation of the effectiveness of the cleaning method - i.e. if it looks clean, it is clean. We did not issue blanket advisories that carpets needed to be discarded or that they needed to be tested. We should be cognizant of where the EPA and Lower Manhattan Task Force cleaning groups are going with respect to cleaning and clearance of carpets since it is documented that it is dilficult to remove fibers from carpets. We need to keep this in mind as it appears that the COC group's recommendation for asbestos in settled dust will be the ASTM microvac sample method - we will need to verify whether or not the group intends to sample carpets with this method. We also need to ensure that the criteria we are looking into will apply to carpets as well (and all of the other Issues such as background, when to dispose of if cleaning is not effective, etc.)

Jim: I think.that someone from the DOH needs to closely participate in these cleaning sub groups - I assume that you or someone else is. Let me know if you need any assistance from me.

One of us could also call her to clarify her results and determine the method of cleaning, and get other information. Maybe we should put her on the list of potential locations for sampling as Nancy suggested.

Jeanine Prud'homme Assistant Commissioner Office of Environmental Sciences & Engineering Ph: (212) 295-5386 Fax: (212) 295-5428

e-mail: [email protected]

»> Nancy Jeffery 04/02/02 10:57AM »> So, what do you suggest a response would be to the caller regarding the "letter" should be?

I suggest that we discuss this with FEMA.

Nancy Loder Jeffery Director Environmental and Occupational Disease Epidemiology (212) 788-4290

»> Vincent Coluccio 04/02/02 09:46AM »> Jim

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