Volatile organic compounds measurements in New York City in response to the events of 9/11

In response to the 9/11/2001 World Trade Center collapse and its associated pollution episode, scientists from the EPA started collecting ambient aerosol and gaseous samples near ground zero to determine the effect on air quality of ground zero emissions. Local emissions from gasoline vehicles and large diesel powered vehicles used to clear the site were expected. Starting on 9/22/2001, gaseous grab samples were collected in stainless steel canisters at three sites within a block of ground zero and at a fourth site 500-m northwest of ground zero on the 16th floor of a building at 290 Broadway. The two airplanes that crashed into the towers carried ∼ 20,000 gal of jet fuel. Although most of the jet fuel burned during and shortly after impact, some unburned fuel might had been sampled. There was a cluster of 5-8 peaks eluting after 40 min in the early samples that were not present in the later sample. These unidentified peaks, which have not been previously observed in ambient air, might also be from diesel or aviation fuel.

Duke Scholars

Author Daniel Vallero Civil and Environmental Engineering