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Asbestos

Asbestos

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Related Information 

• World Trade Center: Executive Summary

• World Trade Center: Full Report

• Asbestos

• Types of Asbestos Exposure

On This Page

• Lower Manhattan Air and Dust Sampling

• Air Sampling Results

• Settled Surface Dust Sampling Results

• Public Health Recommendations

• Health Implications

• Understanding the Sampling Results

• Materials Analyzed

• Sampling Dates and Locations

• Follow-Up Activities and More Information

World Trade Center: Fact Sheet

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health service agency in 

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was created to protect America's health from 

toxic exposures in the environment.

The mission of ATSDR is to serve the public by using the best science, taking responsive public 

health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and diseases 

related to toxic substances.

Lower Manhattan Air and Dust Sampling

After the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, the New York City Department of Health and 

Mental Hygiene and ATSDR collected air and dust samples from 30 residential buildings in 

November and December 2001 in lower Manhattan. Four buildings in upper Manhattan above 59th 

Street were also sampled, as a comparison.

The sampling was conducted to find out what hazardous substances were in the air and settled surface 

dust in those residential areas.

This information was used to find out if hazardous materials in the air and dust were present at levels 

that could cause harmful health effects and what actions might be needed to protect public health.

The levels of materials detected in the air and dust samples do not pose potential health hazards 

provided that recommended cleaning measures are followed.

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Air Sampling Results

• Airborne levels of total fibers were similar in lower and upper Manhattan.

• Airborne levels of mineral components of concrete and mineral components of building 

wallboard were higher in lower Manhattan than in the upper Manhattan comparison area.

Settled Surface Dust Sampling Results

• Low levels of asbestos were found in some settled surface dust in lower Manhattan, primarily 

below Chambers Street.

• No asbestos was found in the upper Manhattan comparison area.

• Lower Manhattan had higher percentages of fiberglass, mineral components of concrete, and 

mineral components of building wallboard in settled surface dust than the upper Manhattan 

comparison area.

Public Health Recommendations

• Continue to clean residences with HEPA vacuums and damp cloths/ mops to reduce the 

potential for exposure, and/or

• Participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cleaning/sampling program.

Health Implications

Exposure to fiberglass can cause rashes and upper respiratory irritation. However, these health effects 

diminish and then disappear when the exposure goes away.

Exposure to high levels of asbestos for a long time can cause serious illness. However, the low levels 

of asbestos detected and the short length of exposure make it very unlikely that people will become ill 

from that exposure.

Because asbestos and fiberglass particles are in settled dust and can easily become airborne if 

disturbed, residents should continue to frequently clean their apartments with HEPA vacuums and 

damp cloths/mops to reduce the potential for exposure.

Understanding the Sampling Results

The levels of particulate matter, airborne irritants, and settled surface dust were likely lower when 

sampling was conducted (November-December 2001) than they were in the immediate days and 

weeks after the World Trade Center collapse.

By November, outdoor dust contamination was likely reduced by wind, rain, and cleaning (city 

workers vacuumed the streets and sidewalks with HEPA trucks). Indoor settled surface dust may have 

been reduced if areas were cleaned before being sampled.

Therefore, these results probably underestimate the levels of World Trade Center-related materials 

that were in lower Manhattan immediately after September 11.

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Materials Analyzed

We focused on materials that we expected to be present in the original dust cloud and in dust 

generated by ongoing activities at the World Trade Center, as well as materials that have irritant 

properties and that are associated with long-term health effects (for example, asbestos and quartz).

 The samples were analyzed for the following materials:

• Asbestos

• Fiberglass

• Mineral components of concrete (quartz, calcite, and portlandite)

• Mineral components of building wallboard (gypsum, mica, and halite)

Sampling Dates and Locations

The sampling was conducted from November 4 through December 11, 2001, in and around 30 

residential buildings in lower Manhattan.

Four more buildings in upper Manhattan (above 59th Street) were sampled, as a comparison.

Lower Manhattan Air and Dust Sampling Approximate Locations

Follow-Up Activities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently conducting follow-up activities to 

address the recommendations.

For more information

• Call the NYC DOHMH hotline at 877-796-5471

• Go to NYC DOHMH's Web site

Contact ATSDR's toll-free information line: (888) 42-ATSDR or (888) 422-8737 .

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• Page last reviewed: April 1, 2008

• Page last updated: April 1, 2008

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