MTA: 2nd Avenue Subway Construction Not A Danger To Your Health
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The new Second Avenue subway line is aimed at reducing overcrowding on the Lexington Avenue line but residents who live near the construction site are concerned about dust and possible health problems.
The "skunk-like"smell coming from the site has many residents fuming and some say they have developed coughs since the start of construction because of the dust.
After a rise in complaints, the city commissioned an air-quality study late last year but the results, which were just posted to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's website, show the daily blasting is not hazardous.
EXTRA: Air-Quality Monitoring Study
"Based on the results of the study, there are no concerns that Second Avenue Subway construction is causing any danger to the public's health," MTA Capital Construction President Michael Horodniceanu said. "We will continue to do everything we can to be a good neighbor as we complete this critically important project as quickly as possible."
Instead, the findings blame the spike in some pollutants on traffic and buildings' dirty boilers.
The findings acknowledge the "sulfry" and "smoky" odors are impacting nearby residents.
Inspectors found those living closest to the so-called "muck buildings" -- which house all the excavation materials -- are most affected by the dust.
But still, they say these fumes are not creating a health hazard.
Even so, last month, well after the monitoring period ended -- the MTA made some changes to the site -- which included adding a wet burlap sack to trap some of the dust.
The MTA board is planning to present the findings, which were reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency, to the local community board next week.
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