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Daily Environmental Monitoring Summary

Friday, December 28, 2001

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.

Results as of 2:00 p.m. on 12/28

Ambient Air Samples - Lower Manhattan:
Particulate Monitoring - EPA used portable monitors to collect samples on December 27 in the following locations: L (north east side of Stuyvesant High School); N (south side of Pier 25); and R (north west side of Stuyvesant High School). All readings were below the OSHA time-weighted permissible exposure limit for particulates.

VOCs - Sampling for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was conducted on December 27 in the direct area of the debris pile at ground zero. To protect workers at the work site, EPA takes grab samples of VOCs where smoke plumes have been sighted. The results are snapshots of the levels at a moment in time. OSHA's protective standards set a permissible exposure limit (PEL) averaged over an 8-hour day. Benzene exceeded the OSHA standard at the North Tower debris pile. Two of three other samples taken at EPA's Wash Tent (West St. and Murray) and the South Tower debris pile showed no detectable levels of benzene.

Dioxin - Five samples were collected at Park Row (three samples) and at Chambers and West Street (two samples) at roof top locations. None of the samples were above the EPA action level based on a 30-year exposure.

Direct Air Readings - EPA did air monitoring in and around ground zero for a number of compounds on December 27. No significant readings were found.

Latest Available Daily Environmental Monitoring Summary

EPA information about the events of September 11

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