Project Experience: Emergency, Remedial Response

As an EPA contract laboratory, EMSL Analytical, Inc. was selected as the analytical laboratory for the World Trade Center (WTC) emergency and remedial response efforts and to implement major analytical activities related to indoor air and settled dust sampling in lower Manhattan. The sampling activities occurred in three separate phases. The first phase included activities related to a major background study in Manhattan. The second phase included activities related to a pilot study to determine effective cleaning mechanisms and techniques on indoor areas directly impacted by the collapse of the WTC towers. The third phase included testing and cleaning activities related to response to EPA sponsored relief program for Manhattan residents. From 2001 to 2003, EMSL analyzed over 80,000 air samples by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) AHERA and phase contrast microscopy (PCM) NIOSH 7400 samples related to on-going clean-up efforts. EMSL also performed analysis of additional non-asbestos parameters during this time period including metals, silica and MMVF.