World Trade Center Search Halted Due to Asbestos

May 1 , 2006 - This week, the search for human remains on the top of a building in the vicinity of the former World Trade Center had to be halted due to the overwhelming presence of asbestos in the debris that was being combed.

In recent months, workers have diligently searched the roof of the Deutsche Bank building, already finding more than 600 bone fragments and assorted other human remains at this building, which was seriously damaged on September 11th.  The south tower of the World Trade Center partially collapsed onto the Deutsche Bank.

On Thursday, April 27th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suspended the search, noting that the roof area was “not properly cleaned.” The decision came after an inspection by the EPA, city Department of Environmental Protection, and the state Department of Labor.  Follow-up testing determined that the dust which had collected on the roof contained asbestos. 

Workers had been clearing the building in order to dismantle it.  The EPA and Department of Labor have stated that a new re-cleaning plan for that area of the building is being created.  Other work at the building continued as scheduled.