Dust: The Inside Story of its Role in the September 11th Aftermath

by Paul J. Lioy, Thomas H. Kean (Foreword by)

Overview

One of the first scientists to take samples from Ground Zero after the destruction of the Twin Towers, Lioy shares his personal and professional perspectives on the World Trade Center dust. What was in the material that rained down after the disintegration of these buildings? Why did officials wrongly choose to focus on the release of asbestos? How did the size of the dust particles influence the development of the World Trade Center Cough among rescue workers and other New Yorkers? When were respirators used on site and what changes should be made to respirator design now? Dust answers these, and many other, questions about the environmental effects, public policy initiatives, health outcomes and scientific findings that played a critical role in the aftermath of September 11th. Beyond providing insightful analysis of what happened then, this book details the significant steps we need to take in order to better prepare for future catastrophes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442201507
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	02/16/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Paul J. Lioy is a Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He is Deputy Director for Government Relations and Director of Exposure Science at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Rutgers University and RWJMS-UMDNJ. Dr. Lioy received the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) Jerome Wesolowski Award for Lifetime Achievement in Exposure in 1998, the Frank Chambers Award for lifetime achievement in Air Pollution from the Air and Waste Management Association in 2003, and the Rutgers University Graduate SchoolOs Distinguished Alumnus award in Mathematics, Engineering and Physical Sciences in 2008. He received a National Conservation Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution, and their Founders Trustees, Ellen Hardin Walworth Medal for Patriotism in 2009. He has served on the Science Advisory Board, US EPA, and the National Research Council, Board of Toxicology and Environmental Studies. He is a founder and past-president of the ISES. Dr. Lioy is an associate editor of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, and of the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. He has published over 245 scientific papers and other publications. Honorable Thomas H. Kean, served as Governor of the State of New Jersey 1982-1990, and during his term was rated as one of the nation's most effective leaders by Newsweek magazine. In 2002 he was appointed by President Bush as Chairman, 9/11 Commission. The Commission's Report, released in July of 2004 became a national bestseller, and its recommendations resulted in the largest intelligence reform in the nation's history. He was President of Drew University, Madison, NJ from 1990 through 2005, stressing teaching, creative use of technology in the liberal arts, and international education. Currently he serves on numerous boards, and has a regular column with The Star Ledger, NJ.

Table of Contents

Foreword
When Life Changed
Collecting Dust at Ground Zero
Freeing the WTC Dust
Who is in Charge Here?
Timing is Everything
A Scientific Framework
The Presence of Lead (Pb)
What Was in that WTC Dust?
Into the Unknown: Exposure and Health
Talking and Writing: To What End?
WTC Dust Sticks Like Glue
Exposure Science in Future Catastrophes
Final Thoughts
Appendix A: Bibliography
Appendix B: Presentation of the detailed data set on the compounds measured in the WTC Dust Samples
Appendix C: Original Members of the WTC Panel
Appendix D: Comments on the WTC Signature Study and Peer Review

Editorial Reviews

Since the 2001 collapse of the World Trade Center, much has been written about the health risks posed by the material known as WTC dust. In this exhaustive history, Lioy (exposure science, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Inst., Rutgers Univ.) brings together the facts and controversies. Lioy was among the first scientists on the scene after the 9/11 attacks, and he gives a detailed account of how his sampling was done and precisely what the dust samples contained. He discusses how other agencies were involved in determining the toxicity of the dust and providing guidance on cleaning it up. A recurring theme is that the public is still basically clueless about what to do in a chemical, radiological, or biological disaster and that we must strive for better ways to deal quickly with catastrophic terrorist events. VERDICT Making a mass of scientific data accessible to the general reader and adding his personal insights, Lioy presents an evenhanded account of a complex subject. Recommended for readers interested in the environmental issues of 9/11 as well as academic and public libraries, especially those with collections in exposure science and emergency management.—Ilse Heidmann, Washington State Lib., Olympia

Library Journal

A celebrated specialist in environmental medicine, Keane (the deputy director of Rutgers Occupational Health Science Institute) had a leading role in analyzing the public health issues in lower Manhattan following 9/11. In the chaotic aftermath of the World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attack, he reports, "the rush to rescue without adequate personal protection... or knowledge of the potential effects of WTC dust" actually tripled the number of victims; some 6,000 first responders and rescue workers (especially those working in the first 72 hours) inhaled a blizzard of white dust released by the explosion and ongoing fires, leading to serious injury and illness (though it could easily have been worse, had winds not moved the smoke plume over Brooklyn and out to sea). In this comprehensive report, Lio chronicles the government's environmental and health assessment efforts, including many setbacks and pitfalls, and lessons that need learning; the most important lesson he derives is the need for greater preparedness in order to "minimize the acute exposure... among workers and the community" in the vicinity of a disaster without diminishing the immediate effort to rescue those in harm's way. Four appendices include an extensive bibliography, 10 tables on dust composition, and the peer review of the EPA's final report.
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