Persistent organic pollutants in dusts that settled indoors in lower Manhattan after September 11, 2001

Abstract

The explosion and collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) was a catastrophic event that produced an aerosol impacting many residents, workers, and commuters after September 11, 2001. In all, 12 bulk samples of the settled dust were collected at indoor locations surrounding the epicenter of the disaster, including one sample from a residence that had been cleansed and was once again occupied. Additionally, one sample was collected from just outside a fifth story window on the sill. These samples were analyzed for many components, including inorganic and organic constituents as well as morphology of the various particles. The results of the analyses for persistent organic pollutants on dusts that settled at indoor locations are described herein, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and select organo-chlorine pesticides. The S 86 -PCB concentrations, comprising less than one part per million by mass of the bulk in the two samples analyzed, indicated that PCBs were of limited significance in the dust that settled at indoor locations across lower Manhattan. Likewise, organo-chlorine pesticides, Hexachlorobenzene, Heptachlor, 4,4 0 -DDE, 2,4 0 -DDT, 4,4 0 -DDTand Mirex were found at even lower concentrations in the bulk samples. Conversely, S 37 -PAHs comprised up to 0.04% (o0.005-0.036%) by mass of the bulk indoor dust in the 11 WTC impacted bulk indoor samples. Analysis of one sample of indoor dusts collected from a vacuum cleaner of a rehabilitated home shows markedly lower PAH concentrations (o0.0005 mass%), as well as differing relative contributions for individual compounds. In addition to similar concentrations, comparison of PAH concentration patterns (i.e. chemical fingerprints) shows that dusts that settled indoors are chemically similar to previously measured WTC dusts found at outdoor locations and that these PAH analyses may be used in identifying dusts of WTC origin at indoor locations, along with ascertaining further needs for cleaning.

Occupational Asthma and Lower Airway Disease Among World Trade Center Workers and Volunteers

“…In a study of settled outdoor dust collected 4 days after the towers collapsed, more than 98% of the particles had an aerodynamic diameter exceeding 10 µm and a very alkaline pH [14]. Studies of settled dust inside buildings surrounding the WTC showed similar characteristics to those observed outdoors [15,16].…”

Air levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons after the World Trade Center disaster

“…However, dust and soot from the WTC disaster also deeply penetrated residential and commercial buildings, leaving thick layers of residue (33)(34)(35). Human indoor activities and contaminated central ventilation, heating, and cooling systems can continually resuspend settled dusts into the air; therefore, indoor air may represent a continuing source of exposure to PAHs (and other particle-related pollutants) that should be considered.…”

Bronchial hyperreactivity and other inhalation lung injuries in rescue/recovery workers after the World Trade Center collapse

“…It has been estimated that approximately 70% of the towers' structural components were pulverized during the collapse, producing small-(2.5-10 m) and large-(Ͼ10 m) sized respirable particulates (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). Along with the collapse and pulverization of the buildings, structural fires persisted until mid-December, releasing products of combustion/pyrolysis (4,6,10). The necessary use of gasoline-and diesel-powered heavy machinery to remove approximately 1,500 million kilograms of rubble reaerosolized dust and produced additional combustion products (4,8,9).…”