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Letter from H. A. Bader Consultants, Inc. Environmental Consulting Engineers - February 7, 2002 |
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Dear Parents: This morning I received a report from ATC Associates for lead wipe surface testing at Stuyvesant High School. The testing was performed on February 6, 2002. The U.S. Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of New York Department of Health (DOH) have established allowable levels of lead dust in settings occupied by children. The HUD/DOH clearance level is 40 micrograms per square foot (:g/ft2) for floor surfaces and 250 :g/ft2 for window sills. On February 6, 2002, elevated lead concentrations were detected on floor surfaces in the 5th Floor Hall (312 :g/ft2) and in Classroom 635 (204.8 :g/ft2). Exposure to excessive levels of lead dust can cause brain, nervous system, and organ damage. Lead testing was only performed in 3 classrooms and lead was detected in all 3 areas. The other classrooms were Rooms 701 and 838. These 3 classrooms are intended to be representative of all classrooms in the school (one per exposure, north, east and south). The lead concentrations detected in Classrooms 701 (floor 19.8, sill 53) and 838 (floor 19.9, sill 100.6 :g/ft2) were significant, however levels were less than the HUD/DOH clearance levels. Based on the date of construction, it is believed that there is no internal source of lead in the building. The entire building (except the ventilation air distribution systems) were thoroughly cleaned prior to re-occupancy on October 9, 2001. Lead contamination attributed to World Trade Center collapse and cleanup has been identified outdoors in lower Manhattan. While elevated lead concentrations on floor surfaces can often be attributed to tracking (i.e., dust on shoes) from outdoors, lead contamination on window sills is an indication that airborne lead contaminated dust is entering the building. The primary pathways for dust to enter the classrooms are the windows and the classroom HVAC unit ventilators. Since opening windows in the building is not allowed, the unit ventilators are the primary focus. Testing by the Board of Education at Stuyvesant High School since October has demonstrated that the unit ventilator filtration system does not effectively remove airborne particulates. ATC Associates submitted two wipe blank samples for laboratory analysis as part of the lead testing on February 6, 2002. The blanks had lead concentrations of 34.2 and 54.7 :g/ft2. Blank samples should be non-detected or have extremely low lead concentration. The lead concentrations in the blank samples indicates a serious flaw in the test procedure. To insure reliability, the BOE must perform a thorough quality control investigation of all environmental testing procedures conducted at Stuyvesant High School. H. A. Bader Consultants recommends immediate retesting for lead concentrations throughout the building. Additional classrooms should be tested (minimum 20%) to determine the extent of lead contamination in these areas. If you have any questions, please call. Sincerely, Howard A. Bader, P.E., President |
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