The study was conducted by UC Davis professor Thomas Cahill in conjunction with the American Lung Association of the City of New York. Cahill, an international authority on the constituents and transport of airborne particles, found little evidence that very fine particles persist in indoor spaces near Ground Zero once the areas have been cleaned according to U.S. EPA guidelines.

"We knew that large amounts of very fine particles, which can get deep into a person's lungs and cause serious health problems, were released from the super-hot trade center debris piles," Cahill said. "Our new analysis shows that in the sites we tested, those very fine particles either never penetrated the indoor spaces or were effectively removed by professional cleaning."

The American Lung Association of the City of New York said the UC Davis results should reassure New Yorkers who have had their homes and offices professionally cleaned by a licensed asbestos and lead abatement contractor. Additionally, the association urged all residents who live in the affected area and who have not yet conducted a proper inspection and cleaning to contact local agencies to schedule one.

Cahill heads the UC Davis DELTA Group (for Detection and Evaluation of Long-range Transport of Aerosols), a collaborative association of aerosol scientists at several universities and national laboratories. The DELTA Group has made detailed studies of aerosols from the 1991 Gulf War oil fires, volcanic eruptions and global dust storms.

In February, the DELTA Group released what is still the most thorough analysis of the dust and smoke blown through lowe
'"/>

Contact: Thomas Cahill, Ph.D.
tacahill@ucdavis.edu
530-752-1120
University of California - Davis
24-Sep-2002