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Air Today . . . Gone Tomorrow Article Breathing, mental
problems common among Ground Zero workers
Science Blog, September 9, 2004
Preliminary data from screenings show that both upper and lower respiratory problems and
mental health difficulties are widespread among rescue and recovery workers who dug
through the ruins of the World Trade Center in the days following its destruction in the
attack of September 11, 2001. An analysis of the screenings of 1,138 workers and
volunteers who responded to the disaster found that nearly three-quarters of them
experienced new or worsened upper respiratory problems at some point while working at
Ground Zero. And half of those examined had respiratory symptoms that persisted up to the
time of their examinations, an average of eight months after their WTC efforts ended. In
addition, more than half of the Ground Zero workers who were examined had persistent
psychological symptoms.
From Mount Sinai Medical Center :
Breathing and mental health problems widespread among Ground Zero rescue and recovery
workers
Mount Sinai report shows half of those examined had respiratory symptoms and more than
half had psychological symptoms that persisted well after their WTC efforts ended
Preliminary data from screenings conducted at The Mount Sinai Medical Center show that
both upper and lower respiratory problems and mental health difficulties are widespread
among rescue and recovery workers who dug through the ruins of the World Trade Center in
the days following its destruction in the attack of September 11, 2001.
An analysis of the screenings of 1,138 workers and volunteers who responded to the World
Trade Center disaster found that nearly three-quarters of them experienced new or worsened
upper respiratory problems at some point while working at Ground Zero. And half of those
examined had upper and/or lower respiratory symptoms that persisted up to the time of
their examinations, an average of eight months after their WTC efforts ended. In addition,
more than half of the Ground Zero workers who were examined had persistent psychological
symptoms.
''These preliminary findings 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 Stephen Levin, MD, Associate Professor of Community and
Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Co-Director of the World Trade
Center Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program. ''There is a clear need for this
group of workers and volunteers to receive ongoing monitoring and treatment, and for rapid
clinical response to future disaster settings.''
The findings were released in the September 10, 2004 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR) of the federal Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which provided
funding for the medical screenings. They are based on evaluation of data from 1,100
participants (91% men with a median age of 41) who voluntarily enrolled in the
federally-funded national World Trade Center Worker & Volunteer Medical Screening
Program, coordinated by the Mount Sinai -- Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational
& Environmental Medicine. Through August, 2004, the program 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. In addition to respiratory and mental health effects, program
participants also reported low back and upper or lower extremity pain, heartburn, eye
irritation, and frequent headache.
Only 21 percent of the workers and volunteers participating in the screening program, most
of whom were police officers and utility and construction workers, had appropriate
respiratory protection while working at Ground Zero September 11-14, 2001. During that
period, exposures to WTC dustwhich contained 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 the MMWR
reports, 51% percent met the pre-determined criteria for risk of mental health problems.
The responses also indicated that the participants' risks for post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) was four (4) times the PTSD rate in the general male population.
Currently, CDC has provided $81 million to continue medical follow-up screening for
responders for an additional five years.
To provide Ground Zero workers with additional evaluation and clinical care at no cost,
Mount Sinai has utilized philanthropic support to establish the World Trade Center Health
Effects Treatment Program, coordinated by the Mount Sinai-Selikoff Center, an
internationally respected diagnostic, treatment, and referral center for occupationally
related illnesses.
http://www.scienceblog.com/community/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4009
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