VOC sampling locations table for Ground Zero area, Jan 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

I. Introduction

The World Trade Center (WTC) disaster sparked including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dioxins, enormous concern about the quality of the environment in and PM in an effort to ascertain exposures. In addition, the surrounding neighborhoods. One of the immediate New York University (NYU) and Rutgers University have concerns was the effect of dust from the collapse and collected bulk samples of ash and dust in the immediate burning of the towers on breathing, especially in more aftermath of the disaster. The National Health and susceptible individuals. Dust infiltrated indoors into Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL, homes and apartments, in many cases up to several inches USEPA) has collaborated with these organizations to in depth. Fires at the WTC site continued for several study health effects of PM from the immediate vicinity of months before finally being extinguished, and emitted the WTC site. significant quantities of particulate matter (PM). The primary goal of the present study was to evaluate Recovery and reconstruction efforts have also contributed the potential health effects of PM in people working or to emissions of fine (< 2.5 microns; PMj j), coarse (> 2.5 living in the vicinity of the WTC and downwind of fires and <10 microns; PM2.5.10), and larger (> 10 microns) size and dispersed building materials immediately after the PM fractions. The dust particles from the WTC site WTC collapse. Toxicologic assessment of entrained appear to be quite alkaline in nature, probably due to (settled) dusts and combustion-derived PM dispersed in partial dissolution of concrete, gypsum, and glass fiber the areas surrounding the WTC will provide basic hazard particles (USGS, 2002). As people are trying to move identification information from which a broad health back, decisions must be made about cleaning procedures assessment may be derived. These findings would provide since potential exposure issues are associated with objective information to EPA, New York State, and local redispersal and residual dust. authorities to communicate to the public about collateral Those moving back to their homes as well as those public health concerns. who work in the area have reported throat irritation, In order to begin assessment of the toxicity of dust cough, and other indications of mucous tissue sensory derived from the destruction of the WTC towers, scientists irritation (New York Times, 2001; Washington Post, from NYU (led by Drs. Lung Chi Chen and Mitchell 2002). Nose and throat irritation may be caused by Cohen) went to the area around “Ground Zero” on particles which deposit in the nasal passages and upper September 12 and September 13, 2001. They collected airways and stimulate sensory nerve reflexes (Costa and bulk samples of settled dust from several sites in the Schelegle, 1999). Airborne dust may elicit inflammation, immediate vicinity (<0.5 miles). Back in their laboratories mucus production, coughing, and sneezing in an effort to at NYU, they utilized a procedure to size-fractionate the clear the lung of particles (Raabe, 1999). However, dust to obtain both fine and coarse PM fractions which can inflammation, mucus production, and airway be readily inhaled and deposit in the respiratory tract, and hyperresponsiveness may all contribute to airway are therefore relevant for study of toxicological effects. obstruction. Since asthma is characterized by all of these On October 2, 2001, Dr. Chen contacted Dr. Daniel L. cardinal features (Sears, 1997), it is logical to suspect that Costa of the U.S. EPA NHEERL in order to collaborate on asthmatic individuals may be more sensitive to agents investigations of the toxicity of these size-fractionated which further promote airway obstruction. WTC PM samples. The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL, The approach of the present study (code name USEPA), in coordination with Region 2 of the U.S. WTC2001) was to compare the toxicity of samples of size- Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA or EPA) and fractionated WTC PM25 with previously tested PM the New York Department of Environmental Protection samples in mice. Mice offer a number of advantages for (NYDEP), has been monitoring ambient pollutants toxicity studies; 1) less sample is needed to assess toxicity;

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