OSHA Asbestos Air Monitoring Summary, Financial District, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

11/01/2001 19:41 21233372375 OSHfl REGION ? PAGE 02/03

OSHA SAMPLING RESULTS SUMMARY AS OF 10/31 Asbestos: A total of 615 air monitoring sanmles for asbestos have been taken. From 9/13 - 9/21, 177 samples were taken in me financial district. They were taken on OSHA personnel as they walked wi^in certain predetermined zones. Results revealed asbestos concentrations ranging from ND to .037 fZcc., well below OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL) of. 1 f/cc. After 9/21, sampling focused on the rubble pile and those workers working on or immediately next to it 63 of 438 samples exceeded OSHA’s limit via PCM analysis. However,, upon further analysis using discriminating counting methods and/or TEM analysis, the number of asbestos fibers found dropped dramatically to below detectable lev^ or well below .1 f/cc. Carbon Monoxide; A total of 41 personal samples of workers on the rabble pile showed results ranging from 1 ppm to 34 ppm which are well below the OSHA 50 ppm permissible exposure limit, Noise: OSHA has been conducting noise monitoring in the rubble pile. Twelve personal ■samples have been conducted on em^oyees performing (or working near) various operations such as jack hammering. Employee’s exposure to the noise range from 80.6 dBA to 89 dBA, OSHA’s permissible noise exposure for construction is 90

Respirable SiUca: The overwhelm^ majority of the 217 silica samples show no detectable levels of airborne silica. The hipest sample result was approximately twice the OSHA limit, whereas the next mghest level was less than half of this limit. Both of these levels were found on personnel working in the rubble pile; an area where OSHA continues to encourage the use of respiratory protection. Volatile Organic Compounds: OSHA has taken 244 samples for (VOCs) such as acetaldehyde, acrolein, acrylonitrile, benzene, 2-butanone, chlorodiphenyl (PCS), isocyanates e.g. (MDI, TDI), ethyl benzene, formaldehyde, hexone, perchlorocthylene, s^ene, toluene, 1- 3 butadiene^ trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride and xylene. Screening samples initially showed elevated levels of some organic chemicals resulting from the fires burning in the rubble pile. Subsequent personal and area samples show worker exposure levels to be below OSHA limits. However, one personal sample result for benzene was found to be at the 8-hr. OSHA Allowable Limit concentration of 1 ppm. This was found on a backhoe operator moving debris. Oxides of Nitrogen/ Sulfur: Sampling on grappler operators ont the rubble pile, and on employees maiming truck wash stations revealed trace levels of nitnc oxide and nitrogen dioxide. SOj results are pending. Metals: As of 10/23/01 OSHA has taken 293 air samples to monitor worker exposures to dusts, fumes, oxides, and other compounds of metals such as antimony, beryllium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, vanadium, zinc, cadmium, magnesium, arsenic, and mercury. Results from these samples are generally well below the applicable OSHA limits. However, torch cutting and burning structural steel at the rubble pile have resulted in instances of overexposuTCS as follows: copper (7); iron oxide (7); lead (3); and cadmium (3). Accordingly, OSHA is recommending that workers engaged in these operations wear appropriate respiratory protection.

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