A NIOSH-indexed study reported that higher chronic dust exposure among World Trade Center pile workers was associated with respiratory symptoms and increased prevalence of new-onset asthma, reactive airways dysfunction syndrome, COPD, and chronic bronchitis.
Source: CDC/NIOSH: Respiratory Health Outcomes Among World Trade Center Disaster Workers 5–7 Years After September 11, 2001 ↗Dust entry
World Trade Center disaster dust
Complex particulate exposure encountered by workers involved in World Trade Center disaster response and cleanup.
Airborne form
dust
The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.
Health effects
upper respiratory symptomslower respiratory symptomsnew-onset asthmareactive airways dysfunction syndromeCOPDchronic bronchitis
Evidence
Controls
- dust suppression
- wet methods
- enclosed cleanup equipment
- respiratory protection
- exposure monitoring
- medical surveillance