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Daily Environmental Monitoring Summary

Friday, June 14, 2002

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal, state and local agencies have collected extensive environmental monitoring data from the World Trade Center site and nearby areas in Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey. Since September 11, EPA has taken samples of the air, dust, water, river sediments and drinking water and analyzed them for the presence of pollutants that might pose a health risk to response workers at the World Trade Center site and the public. The samples are evaluated against a variety of benchmarks, standards and guidelines established to protect public health under various conditions. EPA is collecting data from more than 20 fixed air monitors in and around ground zero and additional monitors in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. The Agency is also using portable sampling equipment to collect data from a range of locations.

However, with the recovery efforts at Ground Zero and the Staten Island landfill drawing to an end, EPA has stopped its sampling of pollutants associated with the World Trade Center fires (VOC's). The Agency will continue to monitor for asbestos related to the debris handling in lower Manhattan and at the Fresh Kills landfill for a week after the recovery work officially ends. The outdoor sampling has generally shown no presence or very low levels of pollutants in recent months. The fires have been out for months, recovery activities are almost completed, the barge operation is shut down and our sampling generally shows that air quality in lower Manhattan is back to normal levels prior to September 11. EPA is now focused on providing local residents the assurance that their homes have been cleaned properly.

Results as of 9:45 a.m. on 6/17

Lower Manhattan:

Air Sampling for Asbestos - EPA analyzed 85 samples taken in and around ground zero on June 4, June 5, June 7, June 8 and June 9. All samples showed results less than 70 structures per square millimeter, which is the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) standard for allowing children to re-enter school buildings after asbestos removal activities.

This brings the total number of air samples collected and analyzed for asbestos in lower Manhattan to 9,988, with 22 samples above the standard (11 of these were collected prior to September 30; the other 11 were collected on October 9, November 27, December 27, January 14, February 5, February 11, March 9, March 29, March 30, April 2 and May 25).

Air Sampling for PAH's - A total of 16 samples were collected on May 21 and May 23 at several locations in lower Manhattan. PAH's were not detected.

Air Sampling for PCB's - A total of 36 samples were collected on May 15, May 17, May 21 and May 23 at several locations in lower Manhattan. PCB's were not detected.

Air Sampling for Silicates - A total of 39 samples were collected on May 21, May 23, May 29 and May 31 at several locations in lower Manhattan. Silicates were either not detected, or were below the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) time-weighted average of 0.05 mg/m3.

Staten Island Landfill:

Air Sampling for Asbestos - A total of 31 samples were collected on June 7 and June 8. All samples were below the school re-entry standard.

Air Sampling for Particulates - There were no significant readings from samples collected on June 13.

EPA information about the events of September 11

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