Respiratory protective equipment, mask use, and respiratory outcomes among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers

Abstract

Level of respiratory protection was associated with the odds of reporting respiratory symptoms and diseases. Training, selection, fit testing, and consistent use of RPE should be emphasized among emergency responders.

Respiratory symptoms among search and rescue workers who responded to the 2016 Taiwan earthquake

“…The use and the level of respiratory protection are associated with reductions in respiratory outcomes. One study showed that full-face, half-face or filtering facepiece with N95 to P100 rating respirator has a substantial protective effect rather than non-rated surgical masks 12. The use of surgical masks is insufficient for respiratory protection and may give a false sense of security.…”

“…Training, selection, fit testing and consistent use of respiratory protective equipment should be emphasised among emergency responders 12. The logistics of protective equipment supply should be incorporated into the framework of national and local preparedness systems.…”

Considerations Before Establishing an Environmental Health Registry

“…A significant finding was that rescue and recovery workers who wore respirators on 9/11 were less likely to report respiratory problems 5 to 6 years after 9/11 than those who went without adequate respiratory protection. 19 The most important limitations of the WTC Health Registry are selection bias and recall bias. The WTC Health Registry is the largest registry to track the health effects of a disaster in the United States.…”

The Lessons of September 11

“…Antao et al (2011) found that workers who wore respirators were less likely to report adverse respiratory outcomes 19) . Use of respiratory protection was most frequent among union workers who had previously received training.…”