EPA Provides Results of Comprehensive Sampling Conducted At the AMI Building in Boca Raton, Florida.Business Editors ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 30, 2001 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and today announced the results of its comprehensive anthrax anthrax (ăn`thrăks), acute infectious disease of animals that can be secondarily transmitted to humans. It is caused by a bacterium (Bacillus anthracis sampling at the AMI building in Boca Raton, Florida Boca Raton ("bōkə rə-tōn") is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida incorporated in May 1925. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. . The sampling, initiated at the request of the State Health Department, was conducted under the authority of the Agency's Emergency Response and Removal Program with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. , the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry The United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, (ATSDR) is an agency for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that is directed by a congressional mandate to perform specific functions concerning the effect on public health of hazardous , the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases infectious diseases: see communicable diseases. , U.S. Coast Guard Strike Team, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. , Palm Beach County Health Department, and EPA EPA eicosapentaenoic acid. EPA abbr. eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, n.pr See acid, eicosapentaenoic. EPA, n. contractors. During the period of October 20, 2001 to November 8, 2001, EPA collected 462 samples that included vacuum samples from soft surfaces such as carpet; wipe (1) To completely erase data from memory or the hard disk. See file wipe. (2) A digital video effect that places one image over another. Although there are a myriad varieties, the classic wipe is a scene transition where the next scene slides horizontally or samples from hard surfaces such as desks; and air samples. All samples were analyzed an·a·lyze tr.v. an·a·lyzed, an·a·lyz·ing, an·a·lyz·es 1. To examine methodically by separating into parts and studying their interrelations. 2. Chemistry To make a chemical analysis of. 3. for the presence of anthrax. Eighty-four samples tested positive for anthrax. Positive results were found on all three floors of the building. Anthrax contamination appears to be most prevalent on the first floor where positive results were found in carpet and floor samples. Positive results also were found in the second floor carpet and on surfaces on the third floor. EPA will continue to work closely with AMI, along with other health agencies and local authorities, as cleanup of the AMI building proceeds. This includes sharing of technical information on cleanup technologies, sampling protocols, and post-cleanup sampling.
AMI Building Anthrax Sampling Results
Collected Positive
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First Floor air 25 0
surface wipe 180 35
vacuum 45 31
Total 250 66
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Second Floor air 11 0
wipe 59 0
vacuum 25 10
Total 95 10
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Third Floor air 10 0
surface wipe 73 2
vacuum 28 6
Total 111 8
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Roof Vents air 0 0
surface wipe 3 0
vacuum 0 0
Total 3 0
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Ground Level air 0 0
surface wipe 3 0
vacuum 0 0
Total 3 0
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Grand Total 462 84
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