An Overview of the Environmental Conditions and Human Exposures That Occurred Post September 11,2001

摘要

The events of 9-11-01 left a series of environmental and occupational health issues to be evaluated for short term and long term health effects. A time line for the post 9-11-01 events is provided based upon the types and intensity of the emissions of dust and smoke particles and gases that were released on that fateful day and/or through the last days of the fires on 12-20-01. Summaries are presented on the nature of the plume, the major components of the plume, and the types of exposures that may have occurred outdoors and indoors that will also be essential components of future risk assessments. This overview includes information from a number of published and unpublished studies and analyses. It must be remembered, however, that the situation was a response to a terrorist attack and the subsequent disaster. Thus, the acquisition of samples and the types of analyses conducted by various organizations on those samples must be evaluated within the context of that chaotic enviornment.