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Air Today . . . Gone Tomorrow Article
First Reports of Health
Effects in WTC Rescue, Recovery Workers Find High Rates of Respiratory, Mental Health
Problems
CDC Media Relations, September 9, 2004
ATLANTA, Sept. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Nearly half of more than 1,000 screened rescue and
recovery workers and volunteers who responded to the World Trade Center attacks have new
and persistent respiratory problems, and more than half have persistent psychological
symptoms, according to preliminary data from a medical screening program funded by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administered by the Mount Sinai Medical
Center, New York City.
"These findings suggest that specialized medical monitoring programs for rescue and
recovery workers that identify potential problems and make appropriate referrals for
treatment should be part of all emergency preparedness plans," said Dr. John Howard,
director of the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
"Early provision of respiratory and other protective equipment is also crucial for
preventing physical and mental health effects."
The findings released today in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report are based
on evaluation of data from 1,138 participants (91 percent were men and the median age was
41) who voluntarily enrolled in the World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical
Screening Program. Through August 2004, the screening program has provided free
standardized medical assessments, clinical referrals and occupational health education to
nearly 12,000 workers and volunteers exposed to environmental contaminants, psychological
stressors, and physical hazards. Besides respiratory and mental health effects, program
participants also reported lower back and upper or lower extremity pain, heartburn, eye
irritation, and frequent headache.
"These preliminary findings of the WTC Screening Program demonstrate that large
numbers of workers and volunteers suffered persistent, substantial effects on their
respiratory and psychological health as a result of their efforts," said Dr. Stephen
Levin, Co-Director of the World Trade Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening
Program.
Only 21 percent of the workers and volunteers participating in the screening program, most
of whom were police officers and utility and construction workers (Fire Department of New
York personnel are covered by other programs), had appropriate respiratory protection
September 11-14, 2001. During that period, exposures to dust, diesel exhaust, pulverized
cement, glass fibers, asbestos, and other airborne contaminants were considered to be
greatest.
Of the 1,138 screened workers and volunteers whose responses were analyzed for these
reports, 51 percent met the pre- determined criteria for risk of mental health problems.
The responses also indicated that the participants' risk for post- traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) was four times the rate of PTSD in the general male population.
CDC has provided $81 million to continue the medical screening for these responders for 5
years. When the screening indicates need for treatment, the WTC Health Effects Treatment
Program at Mount Sinai Medical Center, established through philanthropic sources, provides
additional clinical evaluation and treatment at no cost to participants.
In Spring 2002, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson
announced $10.5 million in funds for research and training to address health concerns
related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and $2 million for mental health and
substance abuse services for rescue workers who responded to the disaster. The Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has funds available for mental health
treatment of these workers and volunteers through September 2005. Since September 2001,
DHHS has provided more than $126 million to support services for affected communities,
including crisis counseling, mental health services, and emergency food and shelter.
CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has accelerated efforts to
protect emergency responders from health and safety hazards in responding to terrorist
incidents. NIOSH issued new criteria for testing and certifying respirators used by
emergency responders against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear exposures (
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/standardsdev/cbrn/ ). NIOSH also is partnering with
responders, emergency response agencies, manufacturers, and other federal agencies to
improve respirators and other personal protective equipment, improve training and
education for responders, and improve safety management at disaster sites (
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/guidancedocs/rand.html ).
The reports on World Trade Center-related physical and mental health effects in rescue and
recovery workers and volunteers are available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr. For more
information about the Mount Sinai medical screening program, visit:
http://www.wtcexams.org.
http://www.usnewswire.com/
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