Health effects in New York State personnel who responded to the World Trade Center disaster.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct an evaluation of health effects in New York State personnel who responded to the World Trade Center disaster.


METHODS
Data from a medical monitoring program, including questionnaire data, physical examination results, and clinical and laboratory test results were evaluated for 1423 participants. Descriptive statistics were reviewed and data were analyzed using logistic regression.


RESULTS
Lower and upper respiratory symptoms were reported by nearly half of the study participants. One third reported a psychological symptom. Some health effects, including respiratory symptoms and symptoms suggestive of posttraumatic stress disorder, were associated with having been caught in the cloud of dust on September 11, 2001.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Mauer
Matthew P
MP
Bureau of Occupational Health, New York State Department of Health, Troy, NY, USA. mpm08@health.state.ny.us
Cummings
Karen R
KR
Carlson
G Anders
GA
D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D018635:Rescue Work; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires