ENVR 86 |
| The flooding of residential New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina resulted in the introduction of numerous contaminants into many homes and neighborhoods. After floodwaters were pumped out of the city, a thin layer of sediment remained behind on the floors and other interior surfaces of the homes, which contained concentrations of organic and metal pollutants that often exceeded those reported immediately outside the home. A particle settling-winnowing process that selectively filters fine (clay and silt) particles from larger ones has been proposed to explain these differences. Another important question that has arisen pertains to the concentration of contaminants in the vapor-phase inside the homes, as well as gas-phase contaminants that can absorb to the large number of aerosolized mold spores, which present an additional exposure pathway to first responders and returning residents. Experimental and modeling results will be presented to provide a complete chemodynamic understanding of sediment contaminants inside the home. |
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Natural Disasters: Identifying and Addressing Environmental Concerns
1:30 PM-3:35 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 236, Oral
Division of Environmental Chemistry |