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World Trade Center Dust: Composition and Spatial-Temporal Considerations for Health

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World Trade Center Pulmonary Diseases and Multi-Organ System Manifestations

Abstract

The events of 9/11 caused a unique health hazard by creating a large dust cloud and debris fires that burned for months. The combination of collapsed buildings and fires released many chemicals including a variety of carcinogens and the potential for pulmonary injury and inhalational exposure. Analyses of the spatial-temporal aspects of the dust cloud suggest very high levels of inhalation exposure to first responders and residents in lower Manhattan and western Brooklyn. Of particular, concern are asbestos, titanium, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, and chlordane pesticides. Beyond carcinogenicity and the potential for acute lung injury, many of the identified chemicals are implicated in cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, renal and hepatic damage may occur. Healthcare providers treating exposed persons should be aware of increased risk of contracting these sundry diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA

    Marc Kostrubiak

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  1. Marc Kostrubiak
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Correspondence to Marc Kostrubiak .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Columbia University Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Epidemiology Group, CDC NIOSH U01 0H011308 “9/11 Trauma and Toxicity in Childhood: Longitudinal Health and Behavioral Outcomes”, New York, New York, USA

    Anthony M. Szema

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Kostrubiak, M. (2018). World Trade Center Dust: Composition and Spatial-Temporal Considerations for Health. In: Szema, A. (eds) World Trade Center Pulmonary Diseases and Multi-Organ System Manifestations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59372-2_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59372-2_8

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