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

Abstract

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.

Environmental and Biological Monitoring in a Lead Acid Battery Manufacturing Unit in India

“…Lead is well recognized as an environmental and occupational pollutant 1,2) . The primary routes of lead exposure are ingestion and inhalation 3) and adults are primarily exposed to it through their occupation 4) .…”

Bombs in London: The Work of Friends and Neighbours?

“…Information on this, as on so many things today is readily available. This journal has contributed its share [3][4][5], but it is a small one compared to the countless articles and commentaries written on terrorism and the problems associated with it. Because the media is so wide-ranging and because it provides a platform, somehow, somewhere, for practically everyone there are inevitably apologists to rationalise and excuse.…”

Surface and Passive Monitoring for Asbestos in an Industrial Facility

“…However, reports have been published which suggest costs related to these preventive actions are not substantiated by the actual risk currently associated with this substance (ACM) [7,[12][13][14][15]. It appears that risk from exposure to asbestos is changing somewhat as a result of the World Trade Center events [16][17][18].…”