TRADE CENTER SYNDROME

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The ultimate sick building syndrome.(environmental illnesses caused by

collapse of World Trade Center)(Editorial)(Brief Article)

Author/s: Al Czap

Issue: Oct, 2001

Superheated, volatilized polyvinylidene chloride (PVC), polyethylene,

acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), reinforced thermosetting resin pipes

(RTRP), office desks, chairs, partitions, telephones, and insulated wire, as

well as other plastics, solvents, cleaning agents, heavy metals, asbestos and

other chemicals too numerous to begin naming here, were released in huge

quantities on September 11, 2001, and for the following weeks. Sadly, human

beings suffered and perished in that same conflagration, and the world will

never be the same.

The burning of the upper portions of the twin towers of the World Trade

Center released huge amounts of these substances into the atmosphere, much of

it rising away from the impact site. Upon the collapse of the buildings, and

the ensuing inferno, additional substantial contamination was released at

ground level and into the surrounding areas. Over the next few months it will

become apparent to insightful medical personnel, especially those who will

treat the " ground zero " rescue workers, that health-related problems

involving the upper gastrointestinal tract, the upper respiratory tract, the

central nervous system, the immune system, headaches, etc., have increased

dramatically. The myriad symptoms of the chemically sensitive patient,

observed by those who practice in the field of clinical ecology, will very

likely become another tragic legacy of the terrorists for those unfortunate

enough to have suffered even minimal exposure at " ground zero " and the

surrounding areas.

No doubt many local medical personnel -- who have long ignored or dismissed

as psychological the reality of the cellular nightmare many chemically

sensitive patients suffer with -- will have an abundance of chances to see

the etiology and progress of this syndrome first hand. Instead of being the

occasional, dismissible, faceless patient, they will be faced with their

friends, neighbors, stockbroker, or banker, even relatives. With any luck,

these practitioners will have the sense to seek advice from complementary

practitioners, many who have dealt with these kinds of patient problems for

years.

Widespread acceptance of the work of such a pioneering genius in the field of

environmental medicine as Dr. Theron Randolph would be a monumental step

forward in helping the many thousands who will suffer from the ultimate " sick

building syndrome. " If it becomes as bad as it has the long-term potential

to, we could soon have what will no doubt be known as " Trade Center Syndrome. "

COPYRIGHT 2001 Thorne Research Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group