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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
George D. Thurston, ScD, M. Cohen, P. Maciejczyk, B. Cohen, M. Kendall, M. Heikkinen, M. Lippmann, L. Schuetz, M. Costa, and L. Chen. Department of Enviornmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 57 Old Forge Road, SLF 2 270A, Tuxedo, NY 10987, (845) 731-3564, thurston@env.med.nyu.edu
In an effort to assess the possible health risks associated with exposures to World Trade Center (WTC) dusts and particulate matter (PM) air pollution, we have characterized samples of fallout dusts collected around ground zero and monitored ambient particulate matter at a location 1500 feet to the northeast of Ground Zero. Elemental and organic carbon concentrations were also measured. Furthermore, continuous carbonaceous particles and particle mass were also monitored approximately 2 miles from Ground Zero. We measured the dust's asbestos, trace elements, soluble ions, and the pH of its aqueous suspensions. Only trace amounts of asbestos were found both in the bulk dust samples and as particles larger than 10 µm. No asbestos was found in dust particles less than 2.5 µm. Some inorganic trace elements were found to be at concentrations above background crustal values in the dust. Fine particulate matter air pollution outside the rescue area did not exceed regulatory standards during our sampling, though there were occasional short-term excursions for a few hours, apparently during nighttime build-up and wind direction shifts. However, the alkalinity and fiberglass in the large WTC dust made it capable of being very irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, and upper airways, which may have contributed to the "World Trade Center Cough”, reported by many nearby residents. Our NIEHS Center 's Community Outreach and Education Program actively communicated these results to the public, the press, and decision-makers in order to help the public better understand the environmental health aspects of this disaster.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Bioterrorism, Environmental Exposures
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.