Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of residual dust from the World Trade Center (WTC) on rat sciatic nerve. METHODS:: Nerve action potentials were recorded in nerves exposed to dust from the WTC as well as control nerves. RESULTS:: There was a reduction in the conduction velocity of nerves exposed to a high concentration of the dust from the WTC when compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS:: Although there are statistically significant reductions in conduction velocity when exposed to the WTC dust in this pilot study, additional studies both clinical and basic will be needed to further understand the significance of these results.