Hazardous Material Removal After Earthquake in Turkey

After the earthquake in Turkey, workers, public and private citizens were exposed to asbestos, respirable crystalline silica and heavy metals from the debris and cleanup operations. This slide deck helps to illustrate the health hazards created by this disaster. Controls should have been used to reduce the risk of exposure.

1. Hazardous Material Removal After Earthquake in Turkey Many buildings may contain hazardous materials like asbestos, respirable crystalline silica, inorganic lead, and hexavalent chromium . The dust creates a hazard for emergency responders and demolition workers.

2. Workers at the site of a collapsed building in Antakya, Turkey. Photo Credit - Emin Ozmen for The New York Times Concrete and brick dust contains respirable crystalline silica. Debris may hold asbestos, lead and hexavalent chromium metal

3. A collapsed house in Samandag , Turkey. Photo Credit - Emin Ozmen for The New York Times

4. A woman drinks from a garden well. Most of the water stopped running or turned muddy. Photo Credit - Emin Ozmen for The New York Times

5. Rubble containing hazardous materials being removed after earthquake in Turkey. Photo Credit - Sameer Al- Doumy Concrete and brick dust may contain respirable crystalline silica, asbestos, lead and hexavalent chromium metal

6. Rubble being removed as part of search and rescue operations. Photo Credit - Tom Howell - Daily Record and Getty images Concrete dust contains respirable crystalline silica

7. Rubble being removed as part of search and rescue operatons . Photo Credit - Tom Howell - Daily Record and Getty images Cement dust contains respirable crystalline silica and debris may have asbestos, lead, and hexavalent chromium metal

8. Rubble being removed as part of search and rescue operations. Photo Credit - Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images Cement and brick dust contains respirable crystalline silica and debris may have asbestos, lead, and hexavalent chromium metal

9. Demolition workers cleaning up rubble. Photo Credit - World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization – Earthquakes Cement and brick dust contains respirable crystalline silica and debris may have asbestos, lead, and hexavalent chromium metal

10. Photo Credit - Sameer Al- Doumy Concrete and brick dust contains respirable crystalline silica. Debris may hold asbestos, lead and hexavalent chromium metal