Seriously though, what were they going to do? Tell Manhattan that the air isn't safe to breathe, and have the ensuing riots and mass exodus... to WHERE?
Just like any big company, they look at the risks and costs and decide which course of action will cause the least damage in the long run. Lives are expendable people - both by corporations and the government. It happens every day. Do you know how many product defects are not recalled because it is cheaper to pay out in the event of injury, illness or death rather than to do the recall? Same thing here.