More Air Monitoring Results from New Orleans Available

(Washington, D.C.-Nov. 14, 2005) Additional air monitoring data for New Orleans is available on EPA’s hurricane response website. New concentrations reported for metals, and volatile organic compounds in New Orleans continue to be below health-based screening levels. These monitoring results also include the first results of outdoor sampling for asbestos in New Orleans. Asbestos was not detected in the air samples collected in New Orleans for dates ranging from Oct. 9 - 23 at nine monitoring locations.

Asbestos is the name given to a group of six different fibrous minerals that occur naturally in the environment. Because of their resistance to heat, fire, chemical and biological degradation, asbestos fibers have been used in a wide range of manufactured products, including older building materials. EPA does not normally do ambient air sampling for asbestos, but will continue sampling for this substance throughout the demolition and debris disposal process in the hurricane affected areas to help ensure that any asbestos emissions from demolition and disposal are properly controlled.

Here is the link to the air data: http://www.epa.gov/katrina/testresults/air/index.html The direct link to asbestos results: http://epa.gov/air/katrina/asbestos.html

Contact Information

Eryn Witcher

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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