EPA Releases Contaminant Data Related to World Trade Center
The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Nov. 27 released the first
round of sampling results from its Lower Manhattan Test and Clean
program, established to identify the possible presence of contaminants
associated with the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings.
EPA has posted this round of data on its Web site. The agency is
continuing to test residential and commercial spaces and will update
the Web site regularly as more data becomes available.
Under the test and clean program, EPA is sampling for four
contaminants of potential concern associated with the collapse of the
buildings in 2001 -- asbestos, man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF),
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and lead. To date, EPA has
analyzed 5600 samples collected from 53 residential units and common
areas in nine buildings. The analysis found that three samples for
asbestos in dust exceeded EPA's benchmark for asbestos, and 71 dust
samples exceeded EPA's benchmark for lead.
In each unit or common area in which results indicated a level above
EPA benchmarks, surveys were conducted to evaluate the source of
contamination. In instances in which samples have exceeded a lead
benchmark, the surveys have found the presence of lead-based paint.
Residents and building owners have been notified about their results,
and the agency is offering to clean all spaces in which levels exceeded
our benchmarks.
Data can be viewed at http://www.epa.gov/wtc/testandclean.
Specific addresses of residential and small building registrants
participating in the Lower Manhattan Test and Clean Program are
confidential and are, therefore, not included in the information posted
to the Web site.
For more information about EPA's test and clean program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/wtc/testandclean.