Ambient air sampling report, 40 Rector Street, Sep-Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

40 Rector Holdings, LLC ATC Project No.: 19855-0001 C/0 Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP October 25, 2001 Ambient Air Sampling - 40 Rector Street Page 1 Of 7

n General ATC Associates Inc. (ATC), was retained by 40 Rector Holdings LLC to provide ambient air sampling on floors 1 through 19 in concert with a two phase building-wide cleaning program and to perform a general indoor air quality (lAQ) assessment of the building following the collapse of the World Trade Center Buildings. The purpose of the ambient m air sampling was to ascertain the presence or absence of airborne asbestos, whereas, the lAQ assessment was to determine ambient temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), respirable particulates and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) as compared to commonly accepted guidelines within the occupied LJ spaces of 40 Rector Street. Ambient air sampling services were provided on September 27 - 28, 2001 upon completion of the initial cleaning of the entire building, and between October 22 -23, 2001 upon completion of the subsequent cleaning of the entire building. lAQ services were provided on October 1,2001. Per ATC proposals 15-2001-0909121, 121a, & 121b, the work performed involved the collection of ambient air samples from representative locations on each occupied floor n and the collection of representative lAQ measurements. All ambient air samples were collected and analyzed in accordance with the AHERA Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) method as set forth at 40 CFR Part 763, Subpart E, Appendix A. ATC has selected as a criteria for acceptable ambient air sample sets, the AHERA re-occupancy requirement following an asbestos abatement action of an average of less than 70 asbestos structures per square millimeter (<70 s/mm^) per sample set. All sample sets collected met the AHERA requirement at the time of testing; this criteria is appropriate even thought the cleaning events were not conducted as asbestos abatement projects because the AHERA requirement is a stringent reoccupancy requirement which is designed to be protective of n children (which is a more sensitive occupancy than the expected users of the building). All lAQ parameters measured during the lAQ assessment were within recommended guideline ranges. However, at the time of sampling, an odor of smoke was detected in n several locations within the subject building. This odor infiltrated the building from fires at the nearby World Trade Center site. This odor does not constitute a health hazard although building occupants may consider the sawr unpleasant and annoying. Sensitive individuals, such as asthmatics, may find the odor irritating. As a potential remedy to the odor, ATC provided a recommendation on October 2, 2001 for steps to minimize the odor entrainment into the building. The recommendation suggested that the building consider installing charcoal-impregnated filters on the HVAC system intakes to reduce odor entrainment: restrict to the extent possible access to the lobby via the revolving door only '.. 1 which would minimize odor infiltration and limit odor movement via the elevator shafts; and to perform daily wet-wiping and moping of the lobby with a standard cleaner or detergent solution. As of October 23, 2001, all three recommendations have successfully been implemented with satisfactory results in reducing odor entrainment into the building.

ATC Associates Inc. © 2001

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