Submitted by Philip S. Crosby, Apr 21, 2007 09:27

Quicklime (Calcium Oxide) is generated when calcium carbonate, a component of concrete, is heated. A great deal of it was probably generated as the buildings were burning. The subsequent collapse, which pulverized the reaction products and displaced nearly a billion cubic feet of air, then contained a great deal of this chemical that vigorously reacts with water and CO2. In lung tissue, this would form microscopic inclusions of what would soon become concrete.

It should come as no surprise that subsequent air quality testing would not reveal the presence of quicklime, since it quickly combines with ambient water vapor and CO2 into more benign compounds, a chalky aftertaste, if you will.

This is obvious to those who have had first-year college chemistry, but not, apparently, to lawyers and politicians.

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