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Asbestos Sample Results

RESIDENTIAL DUST CLEANUP PROGRAM
(This Program Ended in 2003)

Message Center
(212) 637-3435

Testing Results Data

Supplemental Information

Asbestos-in-air test results for individual residences were provided only to residents of the affected unit. The locations of residences that have cleared or not cleared EPA's testing criteria was identified by block.

EPA was committed to setting the most stringent standards that could be technically achieved when testing residences for asbestos in air. We have set an initial risk-based clearance level for asbestos of 0.0009 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc). This means that if 10,000 people were exposed to this level of asbestos for 30 years, there may be one more case of cancer than if the group had not been exposed at all.

Testing for asbestos in air called for moving a measured volume of air across a filter, then examining that filter under a microscope equipped with a grid and counting the number of asbestos fibers found. Problems arised when too many dust and fiber particles were captured by the filter. The filter became overloaded and technicians were examining it under the microscope couldn't separate out or identify individual fibers. Residences where this occurs were listed as "Not Determined."

Test Only Data by Quadrants Results Summary

Quadrant (Map)
Total Requests
Cleared
Not Cleared
Not Determined
A
127
113
1
13
B
207
195
5
7
C
138
129
2
7
D
309
302
1
6
Total
781
739
9
33

In a residence where only testing was conducted, EPA recommended that the home would be cleaned and re-tested.

Clean and Test Data by Quadrants Results Summary

Quadrant (Map)
Total Requests
Cleared
Not Cleared
Not Determined
A
879
806
6
67
B
997
959
9
29
C
754
709
18
27
D
756
744
2
10
Total
3386
3218
35
133

In a residence where both cleaning and testing were done, EPA attempted to identify potential sources and then re-cleaned and re-tested the home.

Summary of Residential and Common Areas Asbestos (PCMe) Data by Exceedances

 
Building Count
Apt/Common Area Count
Sample Count
Asbestos Exceedances
Buildings
Apt/Common Area
Sample
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Count
Percent
Clean and Test
383
3386
17328
28
7.35
35
1.03
81
0.47
Test Only
224
781
4215
8
3.57
9
1.15
21
0.5
Total Apartments
452
4167
21543
33
7
44
1.06
102
0.47
Common Areas
144
793
6358
11
7.64
11
1.39
21
0.33
Grand Total
466
4960
27901
41
8.8
55
1.11
123
0.44

Asbestos sampling results for residential apartments are available for each quadrant. as well asbestos sampling results for building common areas, such as hallways and stairways.

 

Table Key

Total Requests: Number of residences requesting testing.
Cleared: Number of residences with all results below the EPA clearance level.
Not Cleared: Number of residences with any results above the EPA clearance level.
Not Determined: Number of apartments with samples not analyzed due to filter overload, etc.

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