The contamination may not have spread

• EPA is also monitoring the ambient environment outside of ground zero.
• As of 10/30/01, 28 of 1485 air samples analyzed in lower Manhattan were found to be above the school reentry standard for asbestos (http://www.epa.gov/epahome/wtc/data_summary.htm).
• Only one of those was collected this month (10/9/01).
• Traces of dioxin, PCB’s, and VOC’s were found.
• Dioxin levels were not high for short-term exposure, but would be of concern over a period of years.
• Note: Dioxin is formed during virtually any combustion process, even in your backyard—see http://environmentalet.org/news/backyarddioxin.htm.
• PCB’s and VOC’s were considered by EPA to be below applicable standards (http://www.epa.gov/epahome/wtc/activities.htm).
• The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has been monitoring the air in lower Manhattan (http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dep/html/airmonit.html).
• The NYDEP reported that as of 9/30, most air samples from outside the security zone were below the residential indoor air standard for asbestos.

Did something get into the water?