cies determine the potential for environmental
exposures to dust and other materials from the
World Trade Center and the possible health
implications of these exposures. Sampling char-
acterized ambient and indoor airborne and
potentially airborne particles (surface dust) in
residential areas of lower Manhattan.
Environmental Assessment
Working Group
In addition to providing direct technical
support to the New York City Department
of Health, ATSDR participated in the federal
Environmental Assessment Working Group. The
workgroup was made up of representatives from
the Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS), the EPA, and the Department of
Labor. An ATSDR staff member was the DHHS
representative to the workgroup. The purpose of
the group was to coordinate public health and
occupational sampling and data review among
the three federal agencies in support of the New
Indoor air sampling in New York City
York City Department of Health and the New
York State Department of Health.
ate the environmental monitoring data. These
evaluations were conducted to determine what
Providing Geographic Information System
health effects may occur to the public as a
(GIS) Assistance
result of the collapse of the Twin Towers. The
team was also responsible for determining what
On September 16, members of the team
public health actions were needed to address the
requested mapping support from the GIS pro-
needs of New York City. ATSDR technical staff
gram. Since that date, several staff members of
members were sent to assist the New York City
the GIS program have contributed their support.
Department of Health. Their activities included
The mapping products provided included:
preparing technical fact sheets on asbestos and
Building use maps of New York City
related substances, giving presentations to the
Map of schools within 5 miles of the World
community, and helping to develop a residential
Trade Center
sampling plan.
Population distribution maps for lower Man-
hattan from the 2000 Census
Indoor Air Sampling
Maps of sampling locations
The major public health action conducted by the
ATSDR technical team was assisting the New
Daily asbestos sampling results maps
York City Department of Health in implement-
Trend map for first two weeks of asbestos
ing the plan for sampling the air in residences
sampling
in lower Manhattan. The overall objective of the
Sampling results maps for dioxins, PCBs,
sampling effort was to help public health agen-
and sulfur dioxide
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