MTA Promises 2nd Avenue Subway Smells Are Not Endangering Your Health

After complaints regarding a "skunk-like" odor permeating from the 2nd Avenue subway construction site, the MTA is reassuring New Yorkers that their activities are not endangering anyone's health.

According to the MTA, a study shows that if any spike in pollution was indeed present, it was a result of nearby commercial and residential boilers:

The analysis of the data for the three days indicates that daily PM2.5 concentrations were primarily attributed to local traffic emissions, other local sources such as commercial and residential boilers, and regional or background levels, with no significant contribution from blasting activities.

As for the stench, "None of the concentrations exceeded the respective irritation thresholds for each pollutant."

MTA Capital Construction President Michael Horodniceanu said in a statement on Thursday that based on the results, the construction did not cause any public health risk and that the MTA "will continue to do everything we can to be a good neighbor as we complete this critically important project as quickly as possible."

Since last summer, East Side residents and store owners located near the site have complained about the dust arising from the site, including Assemblyman Micah Kellner who said the situation likened to "the badlands of Texas."

In addition to the study, the MTA has installed "Dust Bosses" around the site to spray a water mist that prevents the dust from rising by forcing dust particles to the ground. DNAinfo reports that the agency also placed wet curtains along the site's shafts in order to screen for dust.

Check out photos from the completion of the first phase of the subway below:

Comments

[Emilcott]

08:20 AM on 01/26/2012

Want to know how the MTA and PB could have used current air monitoring technology to better assess emissions from the 2nd Ave Subway construction? Read now! http://ehswire.com/2012/01/air_monitoring_standards/

[NyJimbo]

11:06 PM on 01/25/2012

"None of the concentrations exceeded the respective irritation thresholds for each pollutant."

... "and if they did, we couldn't and wouldn't do anything about them."

[NYC07]

09:45 PM on 01/22/2012

As for the stench, "None of the concentrations exceeded the respective irritation thresholds for each pollutant."

Isn't that what they said about the air around Ground Zero?

[hjo4]

12:33 AM on 01/21/2012

The UES residents will be to sick or dead to ride the 2 Ave subway, that I believe will be shut down because the EPA will step in after the 2013 Mayor elections. I will never forget that Mayor Nanny Bloomberg fell in line with the lying Christie Whitman who told America that the air quality was safe after the 9/11 attacks. He'll lie without a second thought if a buck can be turned.

[Max Shaw]

02:49 PM on 01/20/2012

"None of the concentrations exceeded the respective irritation thresholds for each pollutant."

i think thats more a personal decision.

#probablyreallygoodweed

[Connie Citizen]

10:58 AM on 01/20/2012

What folks need on the UES is better, more frequent service – happy to have that done on the existing, decaying 6, something the MTA doesn’t want to provide. Everyone wants this, but we do not want a 2nd Ave Subway built that will cause us (i) LT health issues and (ii) when up and running – currently scheduled to open FIVE years late, at least a billion over budget, and only for the first phase (96th to 72nd with only three or so stops, none the bet. 72 and 86 where the bulk of the UES) traffic is!); and (iii) ruining the quality of life of the neighborhood for decades to come. THIS WHOLE PROJECT IS A SHAM for the MTA to get further into debt (currently approx. $11 billion - although ED Joseph Lhota wants to increase that without restoring and deep service cuts - http://newyork.ibtimes.com/articles/251434/20111117/mta-plans-2012-service-cuts-expected.htm), keep the unions employed and have no accountability for their actions with YOUR TAX DOLLARS! We need to take action or the MTA will bankrupt this city as well as petition our elected officials to overburden tax payers with increased taxes to fund their folly!

[Connie Citizen]

10:57 AM on 01/20/2012

FOLKS NEED TO UNITE AND PETITION THEIR ASSEMBLYMAN, COUNSELMAN AND STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES – THEY DON’T LISTEN BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT MAKING YOUR VOICES HEARD!!! TAKE ACTION!

WHAT A JOKE!

Parsons Brinckerhoff, the firm that conducted the study is conflicted; they are systematically engaged by state transit authorities (Tennesee/Massachusetts), including NYC. They also have been subject to lawsuits regarding their conduct. Why the MTA/2nd Ave Subway Staff did not let the Community chose the firm to conduct the study so that we are ensured impartiality is beyond comprehension. Note that the report did state that fine dust, sulfur dioxide and ammonia readings were above standard federal limits. The Community is silly not to organize itself against the MTA and the health hazards they are causing everyone – they are taking us for fools, stating that all of them due to increased traffic – which coincidentially were not around before construction.

FYI: Parsons Brinckerhoff is the General Engineering Consultant on the LI Rail Road/East Side Access Project;

Many have developed severe coughs and other ailments – I’m not litigious, but maybe it’s time for a class action suit?!

Full Disclosure: I live next door to the construction.