Health Risks from Exposures to Asbestos,Metals,and Various Chemicals due to Collapse of the World Trade Center: An Environmental Residential Survey with a Commentary Related to Ground Zero Workers
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online November, 2001
Health Risks from Exposures to Asbestos,Metals,and Various Chemicals due to Collapse of the World Trade Center: An Environmental Residential Survey with a Commentary Related to Ground Zero Workers
Environmental monitoring was immediately instituted at Ground Zero (GZ) after the collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC). However, nearby residences were not assessed. To address this, a GZ elected official task force requested an independent residential survey to be done. Its findings, whilst based upon relatively few samples, are still probably the first and most detailed produced to date. Overall, residents do not appear to be at risk of long-term, asbestos - or metal — related disease but their homes must still be cleaned professionally to eliminate highly irritating, aerosolized dusts. Respiratory protec tion would eliminate the small chance of long-term dis ease in unprotected cleaners. The risks to GZ workers represent a special case and are discussed in detail.
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