NY Survey Shows #1 Worry - Toxic Air

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http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/44470.htm

DOWNTOWN DWELLERS' NO. 1 WORRY: TOXIC AIR

By DEBORAH ORIN

June 21, 2002 --

Most lower Manhattanites are more fearful about their air quality after the

Sept. 11 attacks than about another terror strike, a new poll shows.

Most residents also report more health problems since Sept. 11 and many say

they're worried about getting cancer or asthma and other respiratory

problems because of the attacks and massive fires, the poll found.

Overall, 59 percent say they're very concerned about Manhattan air - 21

percent say it's one of their top worries - while 51 percent say they're

very worried about future terror strikes.

The poll strongly suggests that downtowners aren't buying the repeated

reassurances from public officials who insist the air is safe.

" Public officials have said to expect another terrorist attack but don't

worry about environmental health problems - but people who live in downtown

Manhattan are more worried about the health hazards, " said pollster Mark

Mellman.

Mellman, a Democrat, conducted the survey for Trust for America's Health, a

nonprofit group that advocates public-health monitoring.

The poll found women are more worried than men - 48 percent of women believe

the air they breathe is unsafe compared to 32 percent of men. Parents are

more worried than those without kids.

When asked about 17 specific symptoms, 58 percent said at least one symptom

has gotten worse since September - especially nose and throat irritation,

coughing and headaches.

Nearly half - 47 percent - say they're very concerned about getting asthma

or some other disease as a result of environmental fallout from the attacks

while 37 percent say they're very worried about getting cancer.

The survey of 500 residents who live below Canal Street has an error margin

of 4.4 percentage points either way. It was conducted May 2-6 and released

yesterday.