WTC environmental investigation report, Sep 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Final Technical Report of the Public Health Investigation Page 48 of 56 York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH), the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and/or other government agencies. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this investigation not only identifies potential public health hazards, but also provides a plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent possible adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances in the environment.

>1. Public Health Actions Taken

Shortly after the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, NYC DOHMH staff, along with other governmental and private organizations, provided respirators and fit checking for people participating in the recovery operations.

Beginning September 13, 2001, NYC DOHMH staff coordinated daily conference calls with the various governmental and private organizations that were conducting environmental sampling at and around the World Trade Center. These coordination calls ended in January 2002.

On September 15, 2001, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Labor formed the World Trade Center Environmental Assessment Working Group. The purpose of the group is to coordinate public health and occupational sampling and data review among the three federal agencies in support of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the New York State Department of Health. Other governmental (e.g.. New York State Department of Health, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection) and private organizations (unions, research institutions, companies) participated on the Working Group.

Shortly after September 11, 2001, and through June of 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Department of Health, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection conducted frequent ambient environmental and occupational monitoring of many different types specifically for the World Trade Center response.

From September 18 through October 4, 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted occupational sampling and evaluation of the conditions at the World Trade Center.

From November 4 through December 11, 2001, NYC DOHMH and ATSDR, with assistance from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, conducted limited sampling of residential areas in lower Manhattan.

On February 4, 2002, NYC DOHMH and ATSDR provided the public with the preliminary findings (asbestos air and dust and synthetic

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gOv/asbestos/lowermanhattan/ResSamp_Sep2002_Text.htniI 07/18/2003 NYC-WTC_000178435