NYC-WTC_000202743

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

ASBESTOS IN DUST FROM THE COLLAPSE By MARK STAMEY Some of the deadly fi­ bers — which are one- and CLEMENTE tISI one-himdredth the diam­ Tons of dust from the eter of a hiunan hair — mangled World Trade stayed airborne, and can Center towers contain remain so for months. cancer-causing asbestos “It is dangerous,” said — and federal officials Howard Bader, of H,A. want to use Superfimd Bader Consultants, an as­ money to help clean it bestos-removal firm. up. While Whitman said Tests on debris from only one sample in two the wreckage show ele­ dozen showed levels vated levels of asbestos, higher than 1 percent, federal Environmental Bader insisted, “Having Protection Agency , *1, , 1 spokesman Chris plulitz L said yesterday. EPA chief Christie Tie higher-^nor- Todd Whitman called as- ‘^^n bestos one of the major from a c^ near the attack environmental hazards registered 45 per- stemming from the trag- edy. Some EPA workers “My main concern is spent yesterday hosing that we continue to mon- down areas heavily itor dust in the air,” coated with chalky film Whitman said. “Right left over from the disas- now, there’s no immedi- ate health threat to peo- of the more com- ple outside the ground- mon diseases caused by zero area.” exposure to asbestos is Samples taken by The mesotheliomia. Post at the disaster scene “Mesothelioma attacks and analyzed by an inde- rhe stomach and lung Im­ pendent, certified labora- mgs,’’ Bader said. “High tory were found to con- exposure is not re­ tain 15 percent chrysotile quired.” asbestos. One percent or Bader said the airborne less is considered to be fibers are the most dan- within the normal range. gerous. Experts said the dust “Asbestos can travel spewed by the collapsing miles in the wind,” he skyscrapers rained down said. “They are finding on parts of Manhattan, debris in Coney Island Brooklyn and Queens. and Breezy Point.”

CITY_21MC100_006765057

NYC-WTC_000202743