Risk assessment for asbestos-related cancer from the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to estimate the lifetime risk of asbestos-related cancer for residents of Lower Manhattan attributable to asbestos released into the air by the 9/11 attack on New York City's World Trade Center (WTC).


METHODS
Exposure was estimated from available data and reasoned projections based on these data. Cancer risk was assessed using an asbestos risk model that differentiates asbestos fiber-types and the US Environmental Protection Agency's model that does not differentiate fiber-types and combines mesothelioma and lung cancer risks.


RESULTS
The upper limit for the expected number of asbestos-related cancers is less than one case over the lifetime of the population for the risk model that is specific for fiber-types and 12 asbestos-related cancers with the US Environmental Protection Agency's model.


CONCLUSIONS
The cancer risk associated with asbestos exposures for residents of Lower Manhattan resulting from the collapse of the WTC is negligible.
Nolan
Robert P
RP
Center for Applied Studies of the Environment & Earth and Environmental Sciences of the Graduate School and University Center of the City University of New York, NY 10016, USA. rnolan@gc.cuny.edu
Ross
Malcolm
M
Nord
Gordon L
GL
Axten
Charles W
CW
Osleeb
Jeffrey P
JP
Domnin
Stanislav G
SG
Price
Bertram
B
Wilson
Richard
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D001194:Asbestos