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U.S. Department of Labor | |
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| Occupational Safety & Health Administration | ||||||
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OSHA SAMPLING RESULTS SUMMARY AS OF 10/08/2002
Asbestos A total of 1425 samples (excluding bulk and blank samples) for asbestos have been taken. From 9/13 -9/21, 168 samples were taken in the financial district. Since 9/21, sampling focused on the debris field and those workers working in or immediately next to it. 179 of the samples analyzed exceeded OSHA's limit via PCM analysis. However, upon further analysis using discriminating counting methods and/or TEM analysis, the number of asbestos fibers found dropped dramatically to below detectable levels or well below .1 f/cc. Carbon Monoxide 127 personal samples of workers on the rubble pile or during demolition operations generally were well below the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 50 PPM. However 2 workers who were both operating gas powered saws near a gas generator were found to be exposed to 73 and 58 ppm up, respectively. Noise OSHA is monitoring the noise exposures of employees who perform (or work near) noisy operations such as jack hammering and drilling. To date the 253 samples collected indicate that employee noise exposures range from 73.7 dBA to 110.7 dBA. Sixty-eight samples have exceeded the applicable permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA, mostly for concrete drilling, cutting, and jack-hammering operations. Accordingly, OSHA continues to recommend the use of appropriate hearing protection in noisy operations, and specifically, for concrete drilling, cutting, and jack-hammering operations OSHA recommends dual hearing protection i.e. plugs and ear muff protection. Total Dust (PNOR) A total of 176 samples (excluding bulk and blank samples) for total dust in and around the debris field were taken. 5 samples were found to be in excess of the PEL for Total dust (15mg/m3). The highest exposure was found on one operator who was exposed at approximately 4X PEL. Respirable Silica The overwhelming majority of 1353 silica samples (excluding bulk and blank samples) show no detectable levels of airborne silica. However, 94 exposures exceeded the PEL. The highest sample result was approximately twenty-one times the OSHA limit (jack hammering concrete 16 feet below grade). The other elevated exposures were approximately one to fourteen times the OSHA limit. These exposures occurred during: 1) pre-drilling /slurry wall 2) jack hammering, 3) rubble removal and loading operations near the Winter Garden; 4) during the breaking up of concrete in the pit; 5) while drilling the concrete slurry wall, 6) flagging operations in pit, and 7) while chipping concrete with power tools during demolition activities at 7 WTC's parking garage. Most of the work areas where apparent overexposures to silica occurred were in the rubble pile/pit; an area where OSHA continues to encourage the use of respiratory protection. Organic Compounds OSHA has taken a total of 707 samples (excluding bulk and blank samples) for organic compounds such as acetaldehyde, acrolein, acrylonitrile, benzene, 2-butanone, carbofurans, dioxin, PCBs, ethyl benzene, formaldehyde, Freon R-22 (chlorodiflouromethane), hexone, isocyanates (e.g. MDI, TDI), perchloroethylene, polynuclear aromatics, phosgene, styrene, toluene, 1-3 butadiene, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, glutaraldehyde, and xylene. Screening samples initially showed elevated levels of some organic chemicals resulting from the fires burning in the rubble pile. Subsequent personal and area samples show worker exposure levels to be below OSHA limits. However, one personal sample result for a benzene sample taken was found to be at the 8-hr. OSHA Allowable Limit concentration of 1 ppm. This was found on a backhoe operator moving debris on 10/7/01. See information below for the specific counts in regards to polynuclear aromatics, Freon R-22, phosgene and dioxin. Dioxins OSHA has taken 10 dioxin samples (excluding blanks) in the plume over hot spots in (and around the perimeter of) the rubble pile. Dioxin levels detected around the perimeter are lower than those found directly over the pile. To date, only one sample taken on the rubble pile showed dioxin levels which exceeded background levels. Dioxins are considered collectively as suspect human carcinogens. OSHA does not have a PEL for dioxins. Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons OSHA has taken 110 samples (excluding blanks). The majority of the samples have not shown the presence of benzo(a)pyrene and/or one or more of five additional fused polycyclic hydrocarbons: anthracene, acridine, pyrene, chrysene and phenanthrene. Sample results to date have identified eight samples which reached or exceeded OSHA's coal tar pitch volatile PEL of 0.2mg/m3 . These personal samples were taken on the pile on iron workers and grappler operators. OSHA continues to recommend the use of respiratory protection when working in the debris field. Freon R-22, Hydrogen Fluoride & Phosgene OSHA has taken a total of 214 samples for Freon R-22 (chlorodiflouromethane), hydrogen fluoride, and phosgene. Only one Freon sample resulted in a detectable level of 6.4 ppm during the transfer of Freon from the auxiliary chiller, and all other samples were none-detected. OSHA does not have an exposure limit for Freon R-22. (The NIOSH REL for Freon is 1000ppm..) Sampling for the decomposition products of Freon R-22, hydrofluoric acid (HF) and phosgene showed no detectable levels. Inorganic Acids OSHA has taken approximately 255 samples for inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, phosphoric, and sulfuric acids. Four samples for sulfuric acid were found to exceed OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 1 mg/m3. Workers were sorting debris. Oxides of Nitrogen/Sulfur Sampling on grappler operators on the rubble pile, and on employees at the truck wash stations revealed trace levels of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide. SO2 personal and area results were found to be below OSHA limits. Metals OSHA has taken a total of 1331 samples (excluding bulk and blank samples) to monitor worker exposures to dusts, fumes, oxides, and other compounds of metals such as antimony, beryllium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, vanadium, zinc, cadmium, magnesium, and arsenic. To minimize the length of the "WTC OSHA Heavy Metal Monitoring Data tables" only the samples that showed detected results for these metals are listed. Results from these samples are generally well below the applicable OSHA limits. However, torch cutting and burning structural steel at the rubble pile have resulted in instances of overexposures as follows: copper (17); iron oxide (28); lead (19); zinc oxide (1), antimony (1); and cadmium (3). Accordingly, OSHA is recommending that workers engaged in these operations wear appropriate respiratory protection. See information below for the specific counts in regards to mercury. Mercury OSHA has taken 242 air samples for inorganic mercury. No mercury was detected. Also, 36 bulk samples previously collected from rubble were re-analyzed for mercury and none was detected. Additionally, 10 bulks were taken on 1/3, with one sample detecting mercury at 0.9ppm and nine samples did not contain mercury. 38 bulk samples were taken between 1/8 and 1/11/02; results indicate 0.1 to 0.2 ppm mostly in around the footprint of Bldg.-6, and in the pit between WTC tower 1&2. 10 bulks taken on 6/5, inside 130 Cedar, detected mercury from 0.3 to 0.5 ppm. One bulk taken in 130 Cedar on the 8th floor in the lab area (off floor below lab table) detected 10.0 ppm mercury. Ionizing Radiation A survey of the rubble pile was conducted on 10/22-10/23 to check for latent radiation with particular attention to alpha radiation. Results show no elevated levels of concern from either known building latent radiation sources or any terrorist origin source materials. |
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