Health Effects in New York State Personnel Who Responded to the World Trade Center Disaster

Abstract

This cohort probably experienced less overall exposure than other World Trade Center responder cohorts did. Results suggest that being present when the buildings collapsed was associated with reported symptoms.

Asthma and lower respiratory symptoms in New York State employees who responded to the World Trade Center disaster

“…However, we have greater conWdence that our Wndings are indicative of lower respiratory eVects, because all LRS demonstrated statistically signiWcant associations with higher exposure. Also, the symptoms reported here are consistent with reports from other WTC responder studies (Herbert et al 2006;Herbstman et al 2005;Mauer et al 2007;Prezant et al 2002;Salzman et al 2004;Skloot et al 2004;Tapp et al 2005).…”

“…In fact, one study has shown that exposure to high levels of WTC PM 2.5 can promote mechanisms of airXow obstruction in mice (Gavett et al 2003). Lower respiratory eVects have been described in several WTC responder populations (Herbert et al 2006;Herbstman et al 2005;Mauer et al 2007;Prezant et al 2002;Salzman et al 2004;Skloot et al 2004;Tapp et al 2005). The rate of self-reported newly diagnosed asthma was twelve times higher than expected among WTC responders in the World Trade Center Health Registry (Wheeler et al 2007).…”

“…The evaluations included completion of a self-administered questionnaire. Participating NYS employees were oVered the opportunity to participate in a related NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) study, which involved collection of information from the medical evaluation, including the questionnaire (Mauer et al 2007). Participants in that initial study were mailed a brief asthmarelated questionnaire beginning in May 2003 and asked to participate in the cohort study described here.…”

“…While some other responder groups arrived on the site almost immediately, only one-third of NYS responders in a prior study were on-site in the Wrst 2 days post-September 11. Almost half had not arrived as of September 16, 2001 (Mauer et al 2007). Thus, their overall exposures presumably diVered from other responder cohorts more involved in immediate response activities.…”

The World Trade Center disaster: a tragic source of medical advancement

“…In the past 10 years, hundreds of manuscripts have been published on the effects of the 9/11 disaster. These papers reported on the findings of several medical monitoring programmes [2][3][4] as well as the largest postdisaster public health registry in US history [5]; they described new syndromes [6] and striking cases of lung injury [7]; demonstrated the association between lung and mental health problems among rescue/recovery workers [8]; and expanded the understanding of the importance of respiratory protection in disaster situations [9]. In this issue of the European Respiratory Journal, a manuscript by WEIDEN et al [10] goes beyond traditional WTC research.…”