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EPA Response to September 11 |  |
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Frequently
Asked Questions
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Note: This information is provided for reference purposes only. Although the information provided here was accurate and current when first created, it is now outdated. |
We encourage you to sign up for EPA's WTC Email Notification Service, which will send information and updates by email to all subscribers.
If you have questions not addressed here, please send them to us at wtc.region2@epa.gov.
Acronyms
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Who is eligible?
All residents of lower Manhattan, living south of Canal, Allen and Pike
Streets are eligible on a voluntary basis to have their residences cleaned
and/or tested.
Will EPA clean residences outside of lower Manhattan?
This program is currently limited to lower Manhattan residences because
data collected to date indicates that the significant impacts from debris,
dust and fires occurred in this area. We are continuing to analyze data,
including that collected through the dust cleanup program, and will reevaluate
as necessary.
General Questions
All Questions
Will the information I give you be held confidential?
Individual information collected at the time you make your request as
well as test results and any other information will be entered into our
Dust Cleanup Database. Any public reporting related to individual residences
will be presented in a form which does not divulge the address of the
residence or the name of the resident. It will be necessary to provide
information collected from this database to our scheduling and cleaning
contractors, who are required to protect your confidentiality. Residents
may access their individual information through our Web site (https://nyrpub.epa.gov/NYRDUST2/dustcleanup/followup.html)
using the discreet confirmation number they receive when they make their
requests. To further protect privacy, people will also be asked to provide
the last four digits of their social security number to access their individual
information.
When will you begin scheduling appointments?
Scheduling, cleaning and testing has begun. You should be contacted by
a contractor to schedule an initial walk through. You can get the names
of the contractors for the quadrant you live in at http://www.epa.gov/wtc/stories/091602.htm.
These contractors will be able to provide the confirmation number you
received when you registered for assistance. Do not volunteer your confirmation
number to anyone, and if a contractor claiming to be working on this program
cannot provide your confirmation number, do not let them into your home.
General Questions
All Questions
How can I check on the status of my request?
Residents may access their individual information through the Dust Cleanup
Database on our Web site (https://nyrpub.epa.gov/NYRDUST2/dustcleanup/followup.html)
or by calling our WTC Message Center (212) 637-3435. You will be
asked for the confirmation number given to you when you make your request.
To protect your privacy, you will also be asked to provide the last four
digits of your social security number to access your individual information.
I’ve lost my confirmation number. How can
I check the status of my request?
Call our WTC Message Center (212) 637-3435 and give them your last
name and the last four digits of your social security number. They will
be able to check the status of your request as well as give you your confirmation
number.
How long will it take to clean the average apartment?
It will vary, depending on the size and content of the residence. Most
residences will be cleaned in two days or less. Testing for asbestos in
air will take one additional day.
General Questions
All Questions
How many residences are there in Lower Manhattan
and will EPA have enough money to clean them all if asked?
Based upon census data, New York City estimates there are 20,000 - 30,000
homes in lower Manhattan. Working with FEMA, we believe we will be able
to fund cleanups for all, if necessary.
Why not clean entire buildings instead of individual
homes?
This program is voluntary. It provides services to residents and owners
who want cleaning while respecting the rights of those who do not. EPA
is reaching out to and meeting with leaders of tenants associations, community
organizations, building owners and realty organizations to facilitate
the coordination of a whole-building approach where desired. Building
owners and managers, co-op boards and tenant associations who are coordinating
cleanup requests can ask
EPA to coordinate building cleanup.
Why test just the air and not test the dust?
The primary way that people are exposed to asbestos is by breathing in
airborne asbestos. Asbestos must be in the air to pose a health problem.
There are accepted health-based scientific protocols in place for conducting
air tests and evaluating the results. We realize that there may be asbestos
in the dust in residential units and that some of this asbestos-containing
dust may get disturbed and become airborne. But we don't have broad scientific
agreement on the relationship between what is in the dust and what is
in the air. Many factors can influence this. For example, how much settled
dust can be disturbed and become airborne is affected by the amount of
dust, the nature of indoor activity, the air flow rates in different interior
spaces and the rate that the dust re-settles. Because of these variables,
there is no health-based level that we can use for dust measured through
wipe samples. EPA has conducted a background study on apartments not affected
by the WTC disaster to provide information on asbestos levels in NYC indoor
spaces. As the data becomes available, we will use it to re-evaluate our
cleanup activities. In the meantime, we believe that cleaning and eliminating
as much dust as possible is the most protective approach.
How can I best keep informed about this program?
New information is constantly being added to this Web site (http://www.epa.gov/wtc).
We also encourage you to sign up for EPA's WTC Email Notification Service
(http://www.epa.gov/wtc/email/index.html),
which will send information and updates by email to all subscribers.
General Questions
All Questions
If I opt for testing without cleaning, can I change
my mind later and ask to have my residence cleaned?
It depends on the results of the testing. If our testing finds asbestos-in-air
levels in your residence to be above our health standard, we will offer
to clean your home. However, if you ask for testing without cleaning,
and the test results for asbestos-in-air find the levels to be below our
health standard, you may not then ask to have your residence cleaned anyway.
What is a HEPA vac and why would I want one?
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air and refers to a special
filter that is attached to the vacuum cleaner. A vacuum with a HEPA filter
captures tiny particles of dust that would pass right through a regular
vacuum. Asbestos fibers, which can be very small, are trapped by the HEPA
filter so they are not re-suspended in the air.
Where can I purchase a HEPA vacuum?
Many well-known vacuum cleaner manufacturers include HEPA filter vacuums
in their lines. HEPA vacuums can be purchased at many department stores,
appliance stores and vacuum cleaner specialty shops as well as on the
Internet. Prices can run from $100 to over $1,000. Note that the HEPA
filters must be replaced, usually annually, and they are more expensive
than regular vacuum filters. Consumer Reports Magazine regularly reports
on vacuums including HEPA vacs. Reviews and ratings are also available
at: http://www.allergybuyersclub.com/compare-vac.html
Are there any other ways to obtain HEPA vacuums
and air purifiers?
Assistance for HEPA vacuums is available from the American
Red Cross
(Click on "Guide to September 11 Assistance").
Questions About Testing &
Cleaning Options
All Questions
Can I use my own asbestos removal contractor and
be reimbursed?
No. The FEMA funding calls for hiring a number of companies to conduct
large-scale cleanups. There is no mechanism for reimbursing third-party
cleanup work.
Questions About Testing &
Cleaning Options
All Questions
Will cleaning and testing be done on weekends?
In the evening?
EPA's cleaning and monitoring contractors will work seven days a week,
from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
I work nights and sleep during the day. What can
I do?
While our contractors will not be available to clean and test before 8:00am
or after 6:00pm, they will be working seven days a week. We will make
every effort to work around your work/sleep schedule.
Questions About Scheduling
All Questions
Will you be cleaning the HVAC (central heating and cooling) system?
There is a vacant apartment in my building. Will you clean it?
Will you clean my exterior balcony or terrace?
Yes. While balconies and terraces are on the outsides of buildings,
they are considered part of the residence and will be cleaned along with
the inside spaces upon the resident's request.
Will you clean my exterior window ledges so dust
doesn't blow in when the window is opened?
Yes. If we can open the window, we will clean the window ledge outside
it.
Will you clean my clothing?
Normal laundering and dry cleaning is all that is necessary for clothing.
They remain your responsibility.
What should I do with valuable and/or breakable
items?
Valuable and/or small breakable items should be cleaned and packed up
or removed for safe keeping before the cleaning contractors begin work.
Questions About What EPA Will
Clean
All Questions
What should I do with my pets?
For the safety of both your pets and our workers, pets must be removed
from your home while the work is underway. In addition to the noise and
presence of strangers, workers cannot be responsible for the possibility
of a pet getting loose from your residence. Fish and pets in aquariums
or terrariums need not be moved out of the home.
Will you clean personal belongings, window treatments,
carpets or furniture?
We will clean all hard surfaces including walls, floors and shelves; we
will HEPA-filter vacuum rugs, carpets and wall-to-wall carpeting; curtains,
drapes and other window treatments, and upholstered furnishings. In dealing
with occupied residential spaces that have already been cleaned, we expect
that most personal belongings will have already been cleaned.
Will you clean my window guards?
Yes. If our contractors can open your windows, they will clean your
window guards and the exterior window ledges.
Will you clean my smoke alarms?
Yes.
Questions About What EPA Will
Clean
All Questions
Will you be cleaning the HVAC (central heating
and cooling) system?
We will seek the building owner/manager’s permission to evaluate
the HVAC system. Evaluation will be done by a contractor that specializes
in this kind of work. Evaluation will involve examination of maintenance
records, filters and accessible portions of the system. If this evaluation
determines that there is a potential problem, the HVAC system will be
cleaned.
Will you clean my air conditioners?
Yes. Individual air conditioner units will be cleaned in place.
It’s summer and I want to use my air conditioner
without waiting until my cleaning is scheduled.
There are two options open to you, depending on the condition of your
air conditioner:
or contact the agency toll-free at 1-877-NYSMART (1-877-697-6278).Questions About What EPA Will
Clean
All Questions
There is a vacant apartment in my building. Will
you clean it?
If a vacant unit is brought to our attention, we will make every effort
to contact the lease-holder, if there is one, or the building owner/manager
to get permission to clean it. If we can arrange access, we will clean
the unit.
There is visible dust and debris on the exterior
of an adjacent building. Where can I get help?
NYCDEP is removing dust and debris from the rooftops and exteriors of
buildings in lower Manhattan. If you see dust or debris on the outside
of a building, call 311.
Will you clean common areas?
We will clean common areas if asked by the building owner or manager.
If EPA's on-site coordinator or project monitor observes that the common
areas need to be cleaned, we will contact the building owner or manager
to get permission to do the cleaning. If a resident asks that common areas
be cleaned, we will evaluate whether those areas require cleaning. This
evaluation will include discussions with building owners/managers and
review of maintenance and cleaning procedures and records as well as visual
inspection. Residents requesting the cleaning of common areas should be
specific about which areas need cleaning and the reason for their concern.
What will be done about dust coming from tops of
buildings?
NYCDEP has done a visual survey of rooftops and building facades and canopies
in lower Manhattan and has begun cleaning them. The city is actively negotiating
access agreements with building owners/managers to complete this work
before interior cleanup work is done on residential units. If you see
dust or debris on the outside of a building, call 311.
Questions About What EPA Will
Clean
All Questions
Does the fact that EPA is willing to clean residences
mean that you are not confident in the cleaning recommendations (to use
wet wipes/mops and HEPA vacuums) made last fall?
We remain confident that the cleanup methods recommended for residences
with minimal dust -- wet wiping, wet mopping and using HEPA filter vacuums
-- are effective. We are offering professional testing and cleanup services
to provide an added level of assurance that residences have been cleaned
properly.
The Agency recommends that all residential spaces that have been cleaned, especially those with significant impacts from dust or debris from the collapse, repeat cleaning using wet mops, wet wipes and HEPA vacuums. Porous surfaces, like carpets and drapes, may still contain some dust that might get released into the air. Exposure occurs when the materials are in the air and inhaled. These followup cleaning methods further reduce the chance of any pollutants that might be present getting into the air.
EPA has conducted two studies that will yield more information in the longer term. A pilot study of various cleaning techniques --wet wiping, wet mopping and using HEPA vacuums -- was conducted in an unoccupied lower Manhattan building to evaluate the effectiveness of these approaches. The Agency also studied the presence of a list of substances associated with the World Trade Center collapse in residences outside of the impacted area to determine pre-existing levels of these materials.
We do have the results of a study done by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Control (ATSDR) and the NYC Department of Health (NYCDOH). This study tested the air inside residences that were cleaned using the recommended methods. None of this air testing found asbestos above the standard used to clear students for re-entry into schools after an asbestos removal. In a number of the residences, dust samples showed that some low levels of asbestos remained. This is why we continue to recommend ongoing cleaning and why EPA is offering this cleanup and testing program.
Questions About Health & Safety
All Questions
Isn't it too late to offer this cleaning program?
Haven't people already been exposed?
The scientific data about any immediate health risks from indoor air is
reassuring and we do not have an emergency health situation in lower Manhattan.
For most of the World Trade Center related compounds, exposure must occur
at elevated levels over a long period of time to present a long-term health
risk. That is true for asbestos, for which health effects most often occur
when exposure is to relatively high levels over a long period of time.
Even if people have not cleaned using recommended methods, leading medical
experts believe that the risk of getting sick from exposure to asbestos
from the WTC collapse is very small. According to Dr. Stephen Levin, medical
director of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine's Center for Occupational
Health and Environmental Medicine, "It's not a zero increase in risk,
but it's not a magnitude of risk that I think people ought to be terrorized
by ..."
The cleanups and testing that EPA and the city are now offering will help reduce any further exposures. In the meantime, EPA will continue to evaluate and confirm the effectiveness of cleanup techniques and determine whether there are compounds other than asbestos that may pose potential risks in the long term.
How high is the risk from exposure to asbestos, fiberglass
and other hazardous materials in my lower Manhattan home?
Independent health experts have characterized the risks from developing
asbestos-related diseases as very low. The ATSDR/NYCDOH study did not
find asbestos present in the air in any of the residences they tested.
However, the presence of asbestos and fibrous glass in the dust in some
tested residences raises the possibility that this material could be redistributed
in the indoor air. While EPA does not believe that residents are currently
facing significant health risks from World Trade Center dust in indoor
spaces, we do think that the best way to reduce this risk even further
is to remove residual dust from people's homes.
There are men working with masks on my street. Are
there precautions that my building should be taking?
People working with potentially hazardous materials wear protective gear,
including respirators, because they are in close contact with these materials,
often breathing in the dust that their work creates. They are potentially
exposed to hazardous material daily over the course of their work lives.
The fact that they are wearing protective gear does not mean that you
are at risk.
Questions About Health & Safety
All Questions
What will EPA test for?
EPA will test for asbestos in the indoor air after the cleanups are completed
(and in residences where people want testing without cleaning). The Agency
will assess the testing results using a health-based benchmark that assumes
a thirty year exposure. This means that if a population of 10,000 people
is exposed to a level of asbestos above the benchmark for a period of
thirty years, there could be one additional case of cancer beyond what
that population would normally expect to experience.
Will you test for dioxin and lead and substances
other than asbestos?
We will test for asbestos in air. This is the substance of greatest concern,
and air is the pathway of exposure. By cleaning up the dust, many other
substances will also be removed. In addition, we are conducting dust-wipe
testing in 250 randomly selected homes. These dust wipes will be analyzed
for dioxins plus 23 elements, including:
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Our scientists will evaluate whether substances other than asbestos might pose a significant risk, and will determine if any refinement to cleanup guidance is needed. Any proposed benchmarks for substances on the list will be peer reviewed by independent scientists.
Questions About Testing
All Questions
How soon after my home is cleaned will EPA test?
EPA will test on the following day.
What if the results show that there is still asbestos
in my air?
The unit will be re-cleaned and the air will be tested again. We would
continue this process until the air monitoring meets the 30-year health
standard.
Were there contaminants in homes before September
11?
Most if not all of the pollutants associated with the collapse of the
World Trade Center were present in New York City's environment prior to
September 11th. To establish a baseline for the presence of these contaminants
in affected residences, EPA will collect and analyze samples to look for
some of these pollutants in residences in parts of Manhattan that were
not impacted. The Agency will use the data to determine pre-existing or
"background" levels of these pollutants in interior spaces in
New York City.
When will I get my testing results? How will I get
them?
You should receive your testing results within 4-6 weeks by U.S.
mail.
Questions About Testing
All Questions
Will the agencies be cleaning any commercial properties?
For the most part, the voluntary cleaning program recently announced by
EPA, does not include businesses. The focus is on people's homes, where
they spend the most amount of time. New York City, however, will be cleaning
a small number of commercial spaces in unoccupied, uncleaned buildings
and will also be cleaning building roofs and facades to prevent any dust
or debris from re-entering interior spaces. The removal of the residual
dust from building exteriors makes sense now that the recovery efforts
at Ground Zero are officially complete. There is financial assistance
available to small businesses through the Small Business Administration.
Where can I find a list of certified contractors
who can clean my office or business?
NYCDEP maintains a list of certified asbestos removal contractors (http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dep/html/airfirms.html
)
on its Web site.
Questions About Businesses
All Questions
I am an asbestos abatement contractor. Whom do I
contact about work in lower Manhattan?
Contact the NYCDEP, in writing, at:
NYCDEP
Asbestos Department
59-17 Junction Blvd.
Flushing, NY, 11373
Questions About Contractors
All Questions
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