Occupational exposures during the World Trade Center disaster response

Upon the request of the New York City Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) monitored occupational exposures among emergency response workers during the rescue and recovery activities at the World Trade Ce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxicology and industrial health 2001-06, Vol.17 (5-10), p.247-253
Main Authors: Wallingford, Kenneth M, Snyder, Erin M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Pollutants - analysis
Aircraft
Asbestos
Asbestos - analysis
Cadmium
Carbon monoxide
Carbon Monoxide - analysis
Construction Materials
Emergency Medical Technicians
Humans
Hydrocarbons
Inhalation Exposure
Laboratories
Metals, Heavy - analysis
Microscopy
New York City
Occupational Exposure
Occupational safety
Particle Size
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis
Reference Values
Rescue Work
Terrorism
Toxicology
Ventilation
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds
Workers
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Summary:Upon the request of the New York City Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) monitored occupational exposures among emergency response workers during the rescue and recovery activities at the World Trade Center disaster site from September 18 through 4 October 2001. During this period, over 1200 bulk and air samples were collected to estimate or characterize workers’ occupational exposures. Samples were collected and analyzed for asbestos, carbon monoxide (CO), chlorodifluoromethane (Freon1 22), diesel exhaust, hydrogen sulfide, inorganic acids, mercury and other metals, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, respirable particulate not otherwise regulated (PNOR), respirable crystalline silica, total PNOR, and volatile organic compounds. Exposures to most of these potential hazards did not exceed NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits or Occupational Safety and Health Administration Permissible Exposure Limits. However, one torch cutter was overexposed to cadmium and another worker (and possibly three others) was overexposed to CO. The elevated cadmium and CO levels were the result of workers using oxy-acetylene cutting torches and gasoline-powered cutting saws. Recommendations were made to ensure adequate ventilation and worker understanding when using these tools and, where possible, to substitute rechargeable, battery-powered cutting saws for gasoline-powered ones.
ISSN:0748-2337
1477-0393
DOI:10.1191/0748233701th112oa