TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing truck driver exposure at the World Trade Center disaster site
T2 - Personal and area monitoring for particulate matter and volatile organic compounds during October 2001 and April 2002
AU - Geyh, Alison S.
AU - Chillrud, Steven
AU - Williams, D'Ann L.
AU - Herbstman, Julie
AU - Symons, J. Morel
AU - Rees, Katherine
AU - Ross, James
AU - Kim, Sung Roul
AU - Lim, Ho Jin
AU - Turpin, Barbara
AU - Breysse, Patrick
PY - 2005/3
Y1 - 2005/3
N2 - The destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City on September 11, 2001, created a 16-acre debris field composed of pulverized and burning material significantly impacting air quality. Site cleanup began almost immediately. Cleanup workers were potentially exposed to airborne contaminants, including paniculate matter, volatile organic compounds, and asbestos, at elevated concentrations. This article presents the results of the exposure assessment of one important group of WTC workers, truck drivers, as well as area monitoring that was conducted directly on site during October 2001 and April 2002. In cooperation with a local labor union, 54 drivers (October) and 15 drivers (April) were recruited on site to wear two monitors during their 12-hour work shifts. In addition, drivers were administered a questionnaire asking for information ranging from "first day at the site" to respirator use. Area monitoring was conducted at four perimeter locations during October and three perimeter locations during April. During both months, monitoring was also conducted at one location in the middle of the rubble. Contaminants monitored for included total dust (TD), PM10, PM2.5, and volatile organic compounds. Particle samples were analyzed for mass, as well as elemental and organic carbon content. During October, the median personal exposure to TD wax 346 μg/m3. The maximum area concentration, 1742 μg/m 3, was found in middle of the debris. The maximum TD concentration found at the perimeter was 392 μg/m3 implying a strong concentration gradient from the middle of debris outward. PM2.5/ PM10 ratios ranged from 23% to 100% suggesting significant fire activity during some of the sampled shifts. During April, the median personal exposure to TD was 144 μg/m3, and the highest area concentration, 195 μg/m3, was found at the perimeter. During both months, volatile organic compounds concentrations were low.
AB - The destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City on September 11, 2001, created a 16-acre debris field composed of pulverized and burning material significantly impacting air quality. Site cleanup began almost immediately. Cleanup workers were potentially exposed to airborne contaminants, including paniculate matter, volatile organic compounds, and asbestos, at elevated concentrations. This article presents the results of the exposure assessment of one important group of WTC workers, truck drivers, as well as area monitoring that was conducted directly on site during October 2001 and April 2002. In cooperation with a local labor union, 54 drivers (October) and 15 drivers (April) were recruited on site to wear two monitors during their 12-hour work shifts. In addition, drivers were administered a questionnaire asking for information ranging from "first day at the site" to respirator use. Area monitoring was conducted at four perimeter locations during October and three perimeter locations during April. During both months, monitoring was also conducted at one location in the middle of the rubble. Contaminants monitored for included total dust (TD), PM10, PM2.5, and volatile organic compounds. Particle samples were analyzed for mass, as well as elemental and organic carbon content. During October, the median personal exposure to TD wax 346 μg/m3. The maximum area concentration, 1742 μg/m 3, was found in middle of the debris. The maximum TD concentration found at the perimeter was 392 μg/m3 implying a strong concentration gradient from the middle of debris outward. PM2.5/ PM10 ratios ranged from 23% to 100% suggesting significant fire activity during some of the sampled shifts. During April, the median personal exposure to TD was 144 μg/m3, and the highest area concentration, 195 μg/m3, was found at the perimeter. During both months, volatile organic compounds concentrations were low.
KW - Area monitoring
KW - Particles
KW - Personal monitoring
KW - Truck drivers
KW - Volatile organic compounds
KW - World Trade Center
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=20144376718&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15459620590923154
DO - 10.1080/15459620590923154
M3 - Article
C2 - 15764541
AN - SCOPUS:20144376718
SN - 1545-9624
VL - 2
SP - 179
EP - 193
JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
JF - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
IS - 3
ER -
