Over half of WTC workers have health symptoms
Preliminary analysis reveals that more than 50% of the screened responders to the World Trade Center (WTC) 9/11 disaster have experienced pulmonary, ear, nose, or throat (ENT), and/or mental health symptoms, according to the Mount Sinai-Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
"The high prevalence of pulmonary, ENT, and mental health symptoms among WTC site workers some 10 months to a year following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is alarming," says Robin Herbert, MD, who also serves as medical co-director of the center. "Our preliminary findings clearly demonstrate the need for the immediate screening of WTC responders, as well as the provision of medical follow-up.
Free and confidential medical screening examinations are being offered to all WTC workers, as well as referrals for follow-up medical care and occupational health education.
"Our findings are consistent with the findings from a number of related health studies, including government-funded analyses, all of which support the urgency of providing appropriate health services for these workers," adds Herbert.
Major findings of the preliminary analysis include:
- 78% of participating emergency responders reported at least one WTC-related pulmonary symptom that first developed or worsened as a result of their WTC-related efforts;
- 46% of the sample still experienced at least one pulmonary symptom in the month before the screening examination;
- 88% reported at least one WTC-related ENT symptom;
- 52% of the sample still experienced at least one ENT symptom in the month before the screening examination;
- 52% reported mental health symptoms requiring further mental health evaluation.
In addition, approximately one in five of the sample reported symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Most striking is the fact that a large proportion of this sample showed evidence (either symptoms or abnormal test results) of respiratory disease 10 months to one year after Sept. 11, 2001.
Approximately 73% of the sample had either ENT symptoms or abnormal physical examination findings
or both. Similarly, 57% of the sample had either pulmonary symptoms or an abnormal pulmonary function test or both.
The data presented were analyzed on a random sample of 250 WTC Program participants selected from the first 500 WTC responders to participate. To date, more than 3,500 WTC responders have been screened as part of the existing one-year program, scheduled to conclude in July 2003.
Public-private effort
The program is being coordinated by the Mount Sinai-Irving J. Selikoff Center, with the support of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and offered to workers and volunteers exposed to hazards of the WTC site and/or Staten Island landfill in New York City in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001 in the course of their efforts in rescue and recovery, restoration of essential services, cleanup, and/or debris removal.
The $12 million in initial federal funding was secured for the one-year screening program through the efforts of Sen. Hillary Clinton with the support of Sen. Charles Schumer, New York’s congressional leaders in the House, and labor leaders.
Only about one-third of the sample participants had received any prior medical care for their symptoms and conditions before participating in the screening program, emphasizing the critical need for medical screening. To date, federal funding has been received to support a total of 9,000 medical screening examinations, one each for 9,000 of an estimated 40,000-plus responders who have been estimated to have participated in post Sept. 11 efforts at Ground Zero.
Kenneth Berns, MD, CEO and president of Mount Sinai Medical Center and WTC Program directors Herbert and Stephen Levin, MD, released the findings, at a major press conference at Mount Sinai.
"These preliminary results demonstrate the importance of the screening program, given the documented persistent effects on the physical and psychological health of the WTC workers and volunteers," said Levin, who also serves as medical director of the Mount Sinai-Irving J. Selikoff Center. "The findings also point to the need for treatment resources and for short- and long-term follow-up. The earlier these WTC-related illnesses are detected and treated, the more likely that treatment will prevent long-term illness and disability," he said.
"Clearly, Mount Sinai’s findings demonstrate the value of this NIOSH-funded screening program for identifying, characterizing, and addressing the chronic health problems experienced by some WTC workers," added NIOSH director John Howard, MD. "The preliminary data also will help inform ongoing research and recommendations to protect emergency responders and others from hazards associated with catastrophic incidents."
Mt. Sinai representatives said further follow-up of affected workers also is clearly indicated to monitor the chronic nature and severity of these health problems and to assure that proper treatment is received.
[Editor’s note: WTC Program services are provided by a consortium of occupational medicine centers in the New York metropolitan region and nationwide under the auspices of Mount Sinai’s Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine working in conjunction with the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics. Workers and volunteers interested in obtaining more information or registering for the program are asked to call the WTC Program phone bank at (888) 702-0630.]
Preliminary analysis reveals that more than 50% of the screened responders to the World Trade Center (WTC) 9/11 disaster have experienced pulmonary, ear, nose, or throat (ENT), and/or mental health symptoms, according to the Mount Sinai-Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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