12:40:37, September 25, 2001: Manhattan Resident Asks EPA about Ground Zero Dust and Asthma

Barbara Rubin, a resident of Lower Manhattan, emails the EPA asking the agency specific questions about air quality in New York City. Rubin explains in her email that she suffers from severe asthma. She asks:
“What are the parameters of the hot zone and the warm zone geographically?”
“What are the current particulate matter concentrations being found right now in Manhattan versus outlying areas. How does it compare with previous counts?”
“Does the sampling separately analyze primary versus secondary particulate concentrations of PM [particulate] in the air? What results have been found?”
“Is anything known about what chemicals are bound to the soot and dust from such sources as the burning jet fuel, smoldering furnishings, plastics, electrical wire, fiberglass etc.?”
“With regard to health issues, does the EPA have any guidelines about recommending such protections as particulate masks when PM is in excess of certain levels? As you know, the use of bronchodilators to relieve asthmatic symptoms just leaves lung tissue open for deeper invasions by more allergens and foreign bodies (PM). The resulting inflammation requires steroids and the cycle just repeats itself.” The EPA’s response directs her to the agency’s website, which does not contain the answers to her questions. [Environmental Protection Agency, 10/6/2001]