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Persistent organic pollutants in dusts that settled indoors in lower Manhattan after September 11, 2001

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 14, pages 164–172 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

The explosion and collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) was a catastrophic event that produced an aerosol impacting many residents, workers, and commuters after September 11, 2001. In all, 12 bulk samples of the settled dust were collected at indoor locations surrounding the epicenter of the disaster, including one sample from a residence that had been cleansed and was once again occupied. Additionally, one sample was collected from just outside a fifth story window on the sill. These samples were analyzed for many components, including inorganic and organic constituents as well as morphology of the various particles. The results of the analyses for persistent organic pollutants on dusts that settled at indoor locations are described herein, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and select organo-chlorine pesticides. The Σ86-PCB concentrations, comprising less than one part per million by mass of the bulk in the two samples analyzed, indicated that PCBs were of limited significance in the dust that settled at indoor locations across lower Manhattan. Likewise, organo-chlorine pesticides, Hexachlorobenzene, Heptachlor, 4,4′-DDE, 2,4′-DDT, 4,4′-DDT and Mirex were found at even lower concentrations in the bulk samples. Conversely, Σ37-PAHs comprised up to 0.04% (<0.005–0.036%) by mass of the bulk indoor dust in the 11 WTC impacted bulk indoor samples. Analysis of one sample of indoor dusts collected from a vacuum cleaner of a rehabilitated home shows markedly lower PAH concentrations (<0.0005 mass%), as well as differing relative contributions for individual compounds. In addition to similar concentrations, comparison of PAH concentration patterns (i.e. chemical fingerprints) shows that dusts that settled indoors are chemically similar to previously measured WTC dusts found at outdoor locations and that these PAH analyses may be used in identifying dusts of WTC origin at indoor locations, along with ascertaining further needs for cleaning.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the NIEHS and Dr. Ken Olden for the supplemental funds provided to the NIEHS Centers at EOHSI (ES05022-12), and at the NYU Institute of Environmental Medicine (ES00260) to complete these analyses, as well as the EPA University Partnership with the National Exposure Research Laboratory (CR827033), which supports Dr. Lioy. We also thank Dr. Dan Vallero, US EPA, NERL, for obtaining the necessary approvals to gain access to the sampling sites surrounding ground zero. Additionally, we thank The Henry and Camille Dreyfus Foundation for financial support during the completion of this work. Furthermore, we thank Daryl Van Ry and Shahnaz Alimokhtari for assistance in the expedient completion of the sample preparation and analyses of the samples described here. This is a contribution of the NJ Agricultural Experiment Station of Rutgers University. The complete dataset of compound specific concentrations is available online at the following web-address: http://www.eohsi.rutgers.edu/WTC/eohsiresearch.shtml. Finally, express our sympathy and continuing concern for the survivors and for the families of the victims of September 11, 2001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, 08901, New Jersey, USA

    John H Offenberg, Steven J Eisenreich & Cari L Gigliotti

  2. Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy

    Steven J Eisenreich

  3. Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, Tuxedo, 10987, New York, USA

    Lung Chi Chen, Judy Q Xiong, Chunli Quan, Xiaopeng Lou, Mianhua Zhong & John Gorczynski

  4. Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Piscataway, 08854, New Jersey, USA

    Lih-Ming Yiin, Vito Illacqua & Paul J Lioy

  5. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, 08854, New Jersey, USA

    Paul J Lioy

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  1. John H Offenberg
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  2. Steven J Eisenreich
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Correspondence to John H Offenberg.

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Offenberg, J., Eisenreich, S., Gigliotti, C. et al. Persistent organic pollutants in dusts that settled indoors in lower Manhattan after September 11, 2001. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 14, 164–172 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500310

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