Fiberglass and mineral air sampling results, Building 1, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

DRAFT Enclosure 1 Results of Fiberglass and minerals in Air and Settled Dust Sampling in Building 1

On November 14, 2001, settled dust and air samples were collected from inside 2 residential units and from 1 outdoor area close to your building. The air and settled surface dust were analyzed for crystalline minerals and for fibers. The results of samples collected from your building, along with the results of the samples collected in comparison residential buildings above 59* Street, are the focus of this enclosure.

Explanation of Table 1: Crystalline Minerals found in Air and Settled Dust in Your Building and the Comparison Areas

Air Sample Collection and Analyses: Air samples were collected using vacuum pumps to draw air through a filter that was suspended at the height of a person’s breathing level. Air samples were collected for 3 (maybe 4 in some letters) different dust or particulate matter (PM) sizes: PM4, PMIO, and PM 100. PM4, particles with diameters of 4 microns or less, contains the fraction of particles that can be inhaled and enter the air exchange region of the lungs (air sacs). This fraction is often referred to as respirable size particles. The PMIO or thoracic fraction contains dust particles with diameters of 10 microns or less. This fraction includes the PM4 fraction, so it contains the respirable size particles along with particles from greater than 4 and up to 10 microns in diameter. These larger particles can deposit along lung airways. The PMIOO or inhalable fraction contains particles with diameters of less than 100 microns. It includes particle sizes that can deposit in the lung air sacs (PM4), the lung airways (PMIO), and the nose and throat.

X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) was used to analyze each of the different size ranges for all of the crystalline mineral analytes (quartz, cristobalite, tridymite, calcite, port/lime, gypsum, mica, and halite). XRD analysis identifies crystalline materials by their unique fingerprint given off (a diffraction pattern) from a beam of X-Ray.

Because of the quality assurance concerns that surround the sample tracking, the results of the XRD analysis are being categorized as estimated values (commonly referred to as “J” values in environmental sampling). In addition, because of the sample tracking concerns, we are not certain enough of sample location (e.g., indoors vs. common indoor area). Therefore, we are not reporting results by sample location. For this reason. Table 1 only indicates whether a mineral was found (Detect) in the size fraction of interest, or not (Not Detected). More detailed information can be found in the final report (Attachment 2).

Air sampling results indicate the presence of calcite (lime), Port/Lime (cement), and gypsum in the air. Gypsum was found in the air of some of the comparison homes; calcite and Port/lime were not.

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