Health and Environmental Consequences of the World Trade Center Disaster

Details

• Personal Author:
  Berkowitz G ; Chen LC ; Chillrud SN ; Gavett SH ; Georgopoulos PG ; Geyh AS ; Landrigan, Philip J. ; Levin S ; Lioy PJ ; Perera F ; Rappaport SM ; Small C ; Thurston G
• Description:
  The attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) created an acute environmental disaster of enormous magnitude. This study characterizes the environmental exposures resulting from destruction of the WTC and assesses their effects on health. Methods include ambient air sampling; analyses of out-door and indoor settled dust; high-altitude imaging and modeling of the atmospheric plume; inhalation studies of WTC dust in mice; and clinical examinations, community surveys, and prospective epidemiologic studies of exposed populations. WTC dust was found to consist predominantly (95%) of coarse particles and contained pulverized cement, glass fibers, asbestos, lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polychlorinated furans and dioxins. Airborne particulate levels were highest immediately after the attack and declined thereafter. Particulate levels decreased sharply with distance from the WTC. Dust pH was highly alkaline (pH 9.0-11.0). Mice exposed to WTC dust showed only moderate pulmonary inflammation but marked bronchial hyperreactivity. Evaluation of 10,116 firefighters showed exposure-related increases in cough and bronchial hyperreactivity. Evaluation of 183 cleanup workers showed new-onset cough (33%), wheeze (18%), and phlegm production (24%). Increased frequency of new-onset cough, wheeze, and shortness of breath were also observed in community residents. Follow-up of 182 pregnant women who were either inside or near the WTC on 11 September showed a 2-fold increase in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. In summary, environmental exposures after the WTC disaster were associated with significant adverse effects on health. The high alkalinity of WTC dust produced bronchial hyperreactivity, persistent cough, and increased risk of asthma. Plausible causes of the observed increase in SGA infants include maternal exposures to PAH and particulates. Future risk of mesothelioma may be increased, particularly among workers and volunteers exposed occupationally to asbestos. Continuing follow-up of all exposed populations is required to document the long-term consequences of the disaster. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor Asbestos Dust Emergencies Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollution Firefighters Inorganic Chemicals Lung Diseases Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety

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• Keywords:
  Air-contamination Air-sampling Airborne-dusts Airborne-particles Airway-obstruction Asbestos-dust Asbestos-fibers Emergency-response Environmental-pollution Fire-fighters Lung-disease Prenatal-exposure Pulmonary-system-disorders Respiratory-system-disorders

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• ISSN:
  0091-6765
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; New Jersey ; New York ; North Carolina ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  112
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20024705
• Citation:
  Environ Health Perspect 2004 May; 112(6):731-739
• Contact Point Address:
  Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY 10029 USA
• Email:
  phil.landrigan@mssm.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  1,1′-Biphenyl, chloro derivs. (CAS RN 1336-36-3) ; Asbestos (CAS RN 1332-21-4) ; Lead (CAS RN 7439-92-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Performing Organization:
  Mount Sinai School of Medicine of New York University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20040715
• Source Full Name:
  Environmental Health Perspectives
• End Date:
  20090714
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:fb4d9955e15897eaa5020dd7368cf3fc497cf3d56cf7102f09a58dc0ac1577df684246fdc529c9a8f3eeeceb20e912a7fb2b761476ae907254bd170426f3f83a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/196362/cdc_196362_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.19 MB ]