Tetrachloroethylene levels in residential dry cleaner buildings in diverse communities in New York City

Environmental Health Perspectives, Oct, 2005 by Michael J. McDermott, Kimberly A. Mazor, Stephen J. Shost, Rajinder S. Narang, Kenneth M. Aldous, Jan E. Storm

In ZIP code areas that have large minority (either predominately Hispanic or predominately African American) populations, recruitment was conducted through door-to-door visits by bilingual (Spanish/English) community health workers. This approach is consistent with recommendations for recruiting minority and lower-income populations (Cabral et al. 2003; Fitzgibbon et al. 1998; Grunbaum et al. 1996; Harris et al. 2003). Community health workers visited all residences in targeted buildings during afternoon and evening hours on different days of the week. Adults responding to door knocks were given a verbal description of the study and a written fact sheet describing the project, in Spanish or English, whichever was appropriate, and were administered the screening questionnaire. Written information urging residents to call the NYC Perc Project to enroll or obtain more information was left on doorsteps or slipped under doors when residents were not at home.

Residences of all eligible participants were visited to collect 24-hr indoor air samples. During these home visits, other activities associated with the NYC Perc Project also occurred (e.g., collection of exhaled breath samples, completion of residential/occupational/medical history questionnaires). All participants volunteered and signed adult consent and/or child assent forms approved by the NYSDOH and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine institutional review boards. Participants received $100 to compensate them for their participation in the NYC Perc Project, screening for glaucoma and other eye diseases, and a prescription for corrective lenses, if warranted, at no cost.

Indoor air sample collection and analysis. Indoor air samples were collected using 3M organic vapor monitors (3M, St. Paul, MN) deployed in duplicate in the main living areas. Monitors were placed approximately 6 feet high and away from any direct sources of ventilation such as windows, air conditioners, fans, or heating/cooling vents. Air sampling occurred for 21-27 hr during weekdays beginning between 1500 and 2100 hr. A hard plastic, impermeable lid provided by the manufacturer was affixed to each monitor at the end of the collection period.

Monitors were analyzed for perc by the NYSDOH Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research in Albany, New York, as described by Amin et al. (1998). Analytical results were reviewed at the laboratory in accordance with approved quality assurance/quality control procedures and entered into the NYSDOH Environmental Laboratory Data Accessioning and Reporting System. Sample results at or below the detection limit of 5 [micro]g/[m.sup.3] are reported as present but less than 5 [micro]g/[m.sup.3] (PL). Both the participating household and the NYCDOHMH were notified as soon as possible when apartment perc levels were above background, and follow-up activities were initiated by the NYCDOHMH.

Geographic information system application. Buildings were geocoded according to street address using MapInfo (professional version 7.0; MapInfo Corporation, Troy, NY) and were assigned Census 2000 (U.S. Census Bureau 2002) block group characteristics for the census block group where they were located. Census block groups were categorized as minority or low income according to criteria for New York State urban areas and New York State urban poverty thresholds, respectively, outlined in the NYSDEC Environmental Justice and Permitting Policy (NYSDEC 2003). Census block groups with a population [greater than or equal to] 51.1% Hispanic, African American, Asian and Pacific Islander, or American Indian (or < 51.1% non-Hispanic white) were classified as minority. Census block groups in which [greater than or equal to] 23.59% of the population fell below the poverty threshold were classified as low income.