Carbon nanotubes
In 2010, researchers reported the presence of carbon nanotubes in the lungs of WTC first responders.[15] Carbon nanotubes are high-tech nanostructured materials, which exhibit unique properties like ballistic conduction. The health effects of carbon nanotubes have been shown to be similar to the health effects produced by exposure to asbestos.[16]
Carbon nanotube formation requires three basic components: a source of carbon, a source of heat, and the presence of certain metals. In particular, formation of the single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) found in the lungs of first responders requires that the metals be present.[17] All of these requirements were met at the WTC site on, and for months after, September 11, 2001.
The three most effective metals for the synthesis of SWCNTs are iron, nickel and cobalt. Both iron and nickel were present in high concentrations near Ground Zero, as shown by aerosol testing done by a team from the University of California, Davis.[18] Iron oxide and nickel oxide are common oxidants in thermite mixtures.
Airborne carbon compounds were certainly present in abundance at Ground Zero in the form of particulate matter resulting from the fires. Heat was also in abundance, as extremely high temperatures were present on 9/11 and afterward at Ground Zero. These temperatures were at least 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than first reported by government scientists, and were far higher than temperatures seen in a normal structure fire.
The molten metal and vaporized silicates that have been reported in the WTC dust can only be explained by the presence of an exothermic reaction like the thermite reaction.[19] Large quantities of carbon nanotubes might have been formed at Ground Zero due to the high temperature environments created by the thermite reaction and the airborne metal catalysts that were also present.
A second possible explanation for the carbon nanotubes in the lung tissue of the first responders is that the carbon nanotubes were components of actual energetic materials that were used in the destruction of the buildings. Carbon nanotubes have been used as energetic modifiers,[20] to improve stabilization of explosives,[21] and to enhance ignition properties.[22]
Conclusion
Some of the illnesses suffered by the WTC first responders might be explained by the existing evidence of energetic materials, like thermite, at Ground Zero. For example aluminum, aluminum oxide and aluminum silicates are known causal factors for some of the common illnesses seen, such as sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and the as-yet-unexplained immune system diseases. Furthermore, the rare cancers found in some first responders could be the result of environmental factors such as the unusually high levels of benzene and derivatives of 1,3-DPP which suggest the presence of energetic materials like thermite and nanothermite.
Analysis of the lung tissue of first responders has also indicated that energetic materials might be involved. The unusual platy configurations of aluminum silicates found in those lung tissue samples seem similar to the platy configurations of aluminum and silicon in the nanothermite that has been discovered in WTC dust samples.
The finding of carbon nanotubes in the lungs of first responders suggests two possible explanations. The nanotubes might have been formed in the unusual environment at Ground Zero, where extremely high temperatures and the presence of airborne metallic species gives yet more evidence for the presence of thermitic materials. Alternatively, the nanotubes might have been components of energetic materials. In either case, the presence of carbon nanotubes in the lungs of WTC first responders suggests the use of energetic materials and should be studied in more depth.
These facts and research findings warrant further study of the correlation between environmental testing results, first responder health study results, and the use of energetic materials at the WTC.
Notes
[1] Jenkins C. 2007. Complaint and Additional Evidence of pH Fraud by: USGS, OSHA, ATSDR, NYC, EPA, and EPA-funded scientists. Journal of 9/11 Studies 12. Available: http://www.journalof911studies.com/volume/200704/DrJenkinsRequestsSenateInvestigationOnWTCdust.pdf [accessed 19 January 2011].
[2] Wu M, Gordon RE, Herbert R, Padilla M, Moline J, Mendelson D, Litle V, Travis WD, Gil J. 2010. Case Report: Lung disease in World Trade Center responders exposed to dust and smoke: Carbon nanotubes found in the lungs of World Trade Center patients and dust samples, Environmental Health Perspectives 118 (4).
[3] Cai H, Cao M, Meng F, Wei J. 2007. Pulmonary sarcoid-like granulomatosis induced by aluminum dust: report of a case and literature review. Chinese Medical Journal 120 (17) : 1556-1560. Available: http://cmj.org/Periodical/PaperList.asp?id=LW200794512467004596 [accessed 19 January 2011].
[4] Jederlinic PJ, Abraham JL, Churg A, Himmelstein JS, Epler GR, Gaensler EA. 1990. Pulmonary fibrosis in aluminum oxide workers. Investigation of nine workers, with pathologic examination and microanalysis in three of them. Am Rev Respir Dis. 142(5):1179-84.
[5] Jones SE, Farrer J, Jenkins GS, Legge F, Gourley J, Ryan K, Farnsworth D, Grabbe C. 2008. Extremely High Temperatures during the World Trade Center Destruction, Journal of 9/11 Studies 19. Available: http://journalof911studies.com/articles/WTCHighTemp2.pdf [accessed 19 January 2011].
[6] Taku Murakami, US Patent 5532449 – Using plasma ARC and thermite to demolish concrete, http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5532449/description.html
[7] Cole, J. 2010. 9/11 Experiments: The Great Thermate Debate. 911Blogger.com. Available: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d5iIoCiI8g [accessed 19 January 2011].
[8] Harrit NH, Farrer J, Jones SE, Ryan KR, Legge FM, Farnsworth D, Roberts G, Gourley JR, Larsen BR. 2009. Active Thermitic Material Discovered in Dust from the 9/11 World Trade Center Catastrophe. The Open Chemical Physics Journal 2:7-31; doi: 10.2174/1874412500902010007 [Online April 2005]
[9] Ibid
[10] Ryan KR, Gourley JR, Jones SE. 2009. Environmental anomalies at the World Trade Center: evidence for energetic materials. The Environmentalist 29 (1):56-63; doi: 10.1007/s10669-008-9182-4 [Online 4 August 2008]
[11] Ibid
[12] Ibid
[13] Moline JM, Herbert R, Crowley L, Troy K, Hodgman E, Shukla G, Udasin I, Luft B, Wallenstein S, Landrigan P, Savitz DA. 2009. Multiple Myeloma in World Trade Center Responders: A Case Series. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine 51(8): 896-902.
[14] Eriksson M, Karlsson M. 1992. Occupational and other environmental factors and multiple myeloma: a population based case-control study. Br J Ind Med 49(2): 95–103.
[15] Maoxin Wu, et al.
[16] Van Noorden R. 2008. Carbon nanotubes behave like asbestos. Chemistry World. Available: http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2008/May/20050802.asp [accessed 19 January 2011].
[17] Height JH. 2003. Flame synthesis of carbon nanotubes and metallic nanomaterials. Dissertation submission to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering.
[18] Ryan KR, et al.
[19] Jones SE, et al.
[20] Ramaswamy AL, Kaste P. 2003. Combustion modifiers for energetic materials. 34th International Annual Conference of ICT; Karlsruhe; Germany; 24-27 June 2003. 1-13.
[21] Patent issued to Raytheon Company, WO/2008/082724. Improved Explosive Materials by Stabilization in Nanotubes. World Intellectual Property organization. Available: http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2008/082724 [accessed 19 January 2011].
[22] Manaa MR, Mitchell AR, Garza RG, Pagoria PF, Watkins BE. 2005. Flash Ignition and Initiation of Explosives−Nanotubes Mixture. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127(40):13786–13787.
Mr Ryan is a true modern day hero in all respects and an inspiration. Please note from an old track man that thermite is not used to weld railroad ties (creosote laden wood) but to create continuously welded rail (CWR) thus eliminating mechanical joints in rail sections.
Good point, welding railroad ties would not work well at all. Rails on the other hand are well suited to this. As an old MIT hacker I knew of a famous hack from before my time of using four small thermite bombs to weld an MTA trolley to the tracks while it was stopped at a station. Clearly this would qualify as terrorism today, but passed for good clean fun at the time.
One other technical note: the condition that you describe as “bronchial obliterans” should actually be “bronchiolitis obliterans.”
Otherwise an outstanding article, keep up the good work.
Excellent article. The lack of medical research into the unusual 9/11 illnesses could actually be another conspiracy, this one engineered for the benefit of the 9/11 conspirators and leaving tens of thousands of sick rescuers–and hundreds of dead ones–as collateral damage.
By now, it is clear that just about all important leaders and organizations opposed to the neocons conspired to censor the 9/11 terror attacks and their mediocre cover-up by the U.S. government: liberal groups, Islamic groups, Peace groups, socialist groups, etc. Maybe the medical-industrial complex is part of the conspiracy also. Oh well…They hardly care to serve the public anyway.
Love,
I’m thankful for the collection of information here, and the fact that more money and public attention are going into the first responders.
Excellent article. The known substances who were in the air give the range of diseases mentioned. There is still a range of energetic substances not looked for: the radioactive ones. The collected dust in the hands of dr. Steven Jones could also be analyzed on radioactive isotopes. This could explain some found illnesses like fast cancer developement.. For isotope analysis one need a special instrument, the Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer. Radioactive isotopes could be emitted by the possible underground nuclear explosions that destroyed the inner core of Builings WTC 1, 2 and 7
AE911Truth.org provides the full contexts within which these findings become more meaningful. People all over the world sympathize with the victims of 911 and earnesly wish for the culprits to be brought to justice. But for justice to be served the truth has to found out. Not the kind that the US government appointed Commission carried out which has left the very Commission in ill-reput and NIST with no scientific leg to stand on.
When will Kevin Ryan publish his latest work on these red/gray chips? In their paper, on page 26 , they stated that they performed the FTIR test and they will publish it elsewhere. Where? and when?
Great article again, and great work on all the information. Maybe we can bring on attention to this matter; and thanks to the guy who made that “You Tube” video who proved that thermate could cut through steel when the media said it was impossible…he pretty much handed the media and critics their ass on a silver tray, with a slap for good measure….to think a guy in his back yard, unfamiliar with the product, cut steel beams with thermate when all our powers to be; investigators, media could not come up with this conclusion.
In my opinion the evidence is overwhelming….watching lava flow from the columns of WTC1 and 2 is icing on the cake….fire can’t do that, it is a conclusion that thermate was used, now how did it get there and who put it there. Why is our government destroying evidence from the get go and ignoring this fact and why did media/television try to mislead the public to believe thermate cannot cut steel????? What will they try next, they must be coming up with another media blitz to try to disarm the situation that is arising. Again money will win out in the end, if we had the cash to put that “You Tube” video on as a commercial during the superbowl showing that thermate cuts through steel when our lead investigators said it could not would produce riots on the streets of New York, New York.
Sean
Regarding your comment in par2 about “lava flowing from WTC1..” is this comment referring to molten metal falling out of the building prior to collapse? if so, i read a long article about this molten material and it turns out it could have been molten lead from a large battery power backup station in the 81st floor of the building. This author believes the standard government conspiracy theory of building collapse.
See this site:
http://11-settembre.blogspot.com/2007/02/ups-on-81st-floor-of-wtc2.html
Neither lead nor the proffered official explanation of aluminum from the jetliner is consistent with the color of the stream. Office fires can’t make anything hot enough to glow at the yellow-white temperatures seen at various times very close to the source of the stream, and even molten aluminum as hot as molten iron doesn’t glow like that in bright daylight; it looks silvery. Besides, about 30 witnesses saw molten iron or steel in the debris pile, and FEMA’s Appendix C findings were ignored by NIST despite its promise to address all of FEMA’s recommendations.
The debate is over. Some combination of thermite and nanothermite brought down the three World Trade Center skyscrapers. 9/11 was an inside job.