Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claims that there is little risk of asbestos exposure from 9/11, critics are still skeptical.
Buildings Tested
According to the EPA, 53 apartments and nine building lobbies were analyzed and only seventy-one of 904 dust samples showed unhealthy levels of lead. Only three samples supposedly had unsafe levels of asbestos.
“The contaminants [are] associated with World Trade Center dust, but they’re also associated with a lot of other things,” explains Mary Mears, spokeswoman for the EPA. “We can’t say, ‘That’s World Trade Center and that’s not.’”
EPA Questioned
U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler openly voices his concern regarding the way in which the EPA is handling the contamination issues in New York City.
“We remain extremely concerned about the limited and flawed nature of the EPA Test and Clean Program,” said Nadler. ” We’re still looking for a comprehensive, scientifically based program.”
The EPA has been criticized for focusing solely on residential buildings, which excludes the risk of asbestos exposure in the surrounding schools, hospitals and businesses.
Mesothelioma can take 20-50 years until symptoms begin showing; therefore, the amount of asbestos that those working and living in the surrounding areas are being exposed to daily, many not be evident for several years to come.
Asbestos is a carcinogen that can be fatal when ingested or inhaled over an extended period of time.
