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Wipe Sample Results
RESIDENTIAL DUST CLEANUP PROGRAM
(This Program Ended in 2003)
Message Center
(212) 637-3435
Testing Results Data
Supplemental Information
The testing found that most of the contaminants were either not detectable or present at levels below the EPA screening levels. It also confirmed that the cleaning techniques used in the program and recommended to residents following the collapse of the buildings were effective in meeting the health-based benchmarks. In some cases, homes may have to be cleaned more than once to achieve these levels.
Lead was
the contaminant most commonly encountered. Of the 222 apartments tested
before and after cleaning, 70 had lead levels before cleaning that exceeded
EPA’s benchmark of 25 micrograms per square foot (ug/ft2), adapted
from the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) 
screening level. The number of apartments that exceeded 25 ug/ft2 was
reduced to 16 after cleaning. Residents living in these16 apartments were
informed about their levels and advised to continue using the recommended
cleaning methods. In addition, they were provided information about how
to contact staff at EPA and the New
York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Lead, which can cause serious learning disabilities and behavioral problems in children, is commonly found in the air, water, soil and indoor dust of the urban environment, and in people’s diets; it is often present in older housing that may contain lead-based paint. According to HUD data, about five percent of the housing stock in the Northeast has lead levels above the 25 ug/ft2 benchmark. In buildings constructed before 1939, more than 10 percent exceed 25 ug/ft2. This factor makes it difficult to distinguish between lead from World Trade Center dust and other sources, especially in older buildings.
Lead in settled dust can be a significant source of lead in a child’s environment, making it important for children under seven years old to have their blood lead levels tested. If children under seven were living in residences that exceeded the 25 ug/ft2 benchmark used in the Lower Manhattan cleaning and testing program, EPA urged the families to have the children’s blood lead levels tested.
Detected levels were compared to benchmarks (or screening values) outlined in a document entitled "Selecting Contaminants of Potential Concern and Setting Health Based Benchmarks."
Data
- Summary of data from all census tracts
- Summary of data by analyte
- Download files of all the results data
To view results, click on the desired area on the map or click on the corresponding census tract below the map (text version).
Full Data Downloads by Census Tract (.zip files)
To view the data in spreadsheet format:
- Right click on the selected link below and save the target
on your computer.
- Double click on the file and allow your computer's zip program to unzip the file
- Open the file from your spread sheet program (i.e. Excel)
- Prompt will ask you what type of data the file contains, choose "delimited" and click "next".
- It will ask you to select a delimiter, choose "other" and
type a pipe symbol (Shift + Key under the "Backspace"
key) and click "finish". (pipe = |)
| 700 [Quad B] | 800 [Quad A] | 900 [Quad B] | 1300 [Quad B] |
| 1501 [Quad C] | 1502 [Quads A & B] | 1600 [Quad B] | 2100 [Quads A & B] |
| 2500 [Quad C] | 2900 [Quads A & C] | 3100 [Quad A] | 3300 [Quads A & B] |
| 3900 [Quad A]] | 31701 [Quads B & D] | Benchmarks | |
Glossary of terms used in the results tables