title: Evaluation of vacuum and wet-wipe methods for removal of World Trade Center dust from indoor environments.
abstract: The destruction of the buildings at the World Trade Center (WTC) complex dispersed dust and debris into the surrounding area. Pulverized building material made up most of the fallout and was intermixed with combustion byproducts of the aircraft and building contents. A study was conducted to confirm the effectiveness of several cleaning procedures in removing WTC-related contamination from lower Manhattan residences. The contaminants included asbestos, lead, dioxin/furans, synthetic vitreous fibers (fibrous glass), and crystalline silica. All cleaning procedures included the common elements of vacuuming and wet wiping with soap and water. This cleaning procedure combination is effective in reducing WTC-related contamination to below health-based benchmarks. Post-cleaning environmental test results suggested that airborne asbestos measurements can be used as a surrogate parameter in clearance determinations.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Edison, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Kai M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Charles G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Nace
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Maddaloni
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Harkay
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Richard N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Koustas
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rotola
authors.forename: Dore
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: LaPosta
authors.forename: Kathleen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Callahan
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000401:Aircraft; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis; D019985:Benchmarking; D004391:Dust; D009519:New York City; D010316:Particle Size; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks; D014618:Vacuum; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D014867:Water; D001194:Asbestos