title: The world trade center clean up and recovery worker cohort study: respiratory health amongst cleanup workers approximately 20 months after initial exposure at the disaster site.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Respiratory health among cleanup workers at the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster site was evaluated approximately 20 months after the initial exposure to assess the risk of lower respiratory symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2003 a self-administered questionnaire requesting information about site experience, current respiratory and historical health, and smoking was sent to 4,546 workers employed at the site (response 25%), and 2103 workers who were never at the WTC (response 12%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared with those never at the site, WTC workers were more than three times as likely to report any lower respiratory symptoms (rate ratio = 3.40, 95% confidence interval: 2.33-4.94).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest an impact on respiratory health related to work experience at the WTC and indicate further monitoring to address potential long-term effects.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Xuguang Grant
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ashwell
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Margo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geyh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000503:physiopathology; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires