Published ahead of print on April 27, 2006, doi:10.1164/rccm.200511-1736OC
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 174, Number 3, August 2006, 312-319
A more recent version of this article appeared on August 1, 2006
Submitted on November 10, 2005
Accepted on April 26, 2006
Pulmonary Function After Exposure to the World Trade Center in the New York City Fire Department
Gisela I Banauch1*, Charles Hall2, Michael Weiden3, Hillel W Cohen2, Thomas K Aldrich1, Vasillios Christodoulou1, Nicole Arcentales4, Kerry J Kelly4, and David J Prezant5
1 Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA,
2 Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Division of Biostatistics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA,
3 Bureau of Health Services, New York City Fire Department, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA,
4 Bureau of Health Services, New York City Fire Department, Brooklyn, NY, USA,
5 Department of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA; Bureau of Health Services, New York City Fire Department, Brooklyn, NY, USA
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: gbanauch{at}montefiore.org.
Rationale: On September 11th 2001, the World Trade Center collapse created an enormous urban disaster site with high levels of airborne pollutants. First responders, rescue/recovery workers and residents have since reported respiratory symptoms and developed pulmonary function abnormalities.
Objectives: To quantify respiratory health effects of World Trade Center exposure in the New York City Fire Department.
Measurements: Longitudinal study of pulmonary function in 12,079 New York City Fire Department rescue workers employed on or before 09/11/2001. Between 01/01/1997 and 09/11/2002, 31,994 spirometries were obtained and the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were analyzed for differences according to estimated World Trade Center exposure intensity. Adjusted average FEV1 during the first year after 09/11/2001 was compared to the 5 years before 09/11/2001. Median time between 09/11/2001 and a worker's first spirometry afterwards was 3 months; 90% were assessed within 5 months.
Main Results: World Trade Center-exposed workers experienced a substantial reduction in adjusted average FEV1 during the year following 09/11/2001 (372ml; 95% confidence interval 364-381ml; p<0.001) This exposure-related FEV1 decrement equaled 12 years of aging-related FEV1 decline. Moreover, exposure intensity assessed by initial arrival time at the World Trade Center site correlated linearly with FEV1 reduction in an exposure intensity-response gradient (p=0.048). Respiratory symptoms also predicted a further FEV1 decrease (p<0.001). Similar findings were observed for adjusted average FVC.
Conclusions: World Trade Center exposure produced a substantial reduction in pulmonary function in New York City Fire Department rescue workers during the first year following 09/11/2001.
Key words: FEV1 decline, respiratory health consequences of 09/11/2001, rescue worker, building collapse
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
M. Corrigan, R. McWilliams, K. J. Kelly, J. Niles, C. Cammarata, K. Jones, D. Wartenberg, W. K. Hallman, H. M. Kipen, L. Glass, et al.
A Computerized, Self-Administered Questionnaire to Evaluate Posttraumatic Stress Among Firefighters After the World Trade Center Collapse
Am J Public Health,
November 1, 2009;
99(S3):
S702 - S709.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. J. Laumbach, G. Harris, H. M. Kipen, P. Georgopoulos, P. Shade, S. S. Isukapalli, C. Efstathiou, S. Galea, D. Vlahov, and D. Wartenberg
Lack of Association Between Estimated World Trade Center Plume Intensity and Respiratory Symptoms Among New York City Residents Outside of Lower Manhattan
Am. J. Epidemiol.,
September 1, 2009;
170(5):
640 - 649.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. M. Brackbill, J. L. Hadler, L. DiGrande, C. C. Ekenga, M. R. Farfel, S. Friedman, S. E. Perlman, S. D. Stellman, D. J. Walker, D. Wu, et al.
Asthma and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms 5 to 6 Years Following Exposure to the World Trade Center Terrorist Attack
JAMA,
August 5, 2009;
302(5):
502 - 516.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. S. Skloot, C. B. Schechter, R. Herbert, J. M. Moline, S. M. Levin, L. E. Crowley, B. J. Luft, I. G. Udasin, and P. L. Enright
Longitudinal Assessment of Spirometry in the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program
Chest,
February 1, 2009;
135(2):
492 - 498.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. D. Fitzgerald, W. K. Rumbeiha, W. Emmett Braselton, A. B. Downend, and C. M. Otto
Pathology and toxicology findings for search-and-rescue dogs deployed to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack sites: initial five-year surveillance
J Vet Diagn Invest,
July 1, 2008;
20(4):
477 - 484.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. I. Banauch, G. Izbicki, V. Christodoulou, M. D. Weiden, M. P. Webber, H. Cohen, J. Gustave, R. Chavko, T. K. Aldrich, K. J. Kelly, et al.
Trial of Prophylactic Inhaled Steroids to Prevent or Reduce Pulmonary Function Decline, Pulmonary Symptoms, and Airway Hyperreactivity in Firefighters at the World Trade Center Site
Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness,
March 1, 2008;
2(1):
33 - 39.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Silverstein
Getting Home Safe and Sound: Occupational Safety and Health Administration at 38
Am J Public Health,
March 1, 2008;
98(3):
416 - 423.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Calderon-Garciduenas, A. C. Solt, C. Henriquez-Roldan, R. Torres-Jardon, B. Nuse, L. Herritt, R. Villarreal-Calderon, N. Osnaya, I. Stone, R. Garcia, et al.
Long-term Air Pollution Exposure Is Associated with Neuroinflammation, an Altered Innate Immune Response, Disruption of the Blood-Brain Barrier, Ultrafine Particulate Deposition, and Accumulation of Amyloid {beta}-42 and {alpha}-Synuclein in Children and Young Adults
Toxicol Pathol,
February 1, 2008;
36(2):
289 - 310.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. W. Oppenheimer, R. M. Goldring, M. E. Herberg, I. S. Hofer, P. A. Reyfman, S. Liautaud, W. N. Rom, J. Reibman, and K. I. Berger
Distal Airway Function in Symptomatic Subjects With Normal Spirometry Following World Trade Center Dust Exposure
Chest,
October 1, 2007;
132(4):
1275 - 1282.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Miedinger, P. N. Chhajed, D. Stolz, C. Gysin, A-B. Wanzenried, C. Schindler, C. Surber, H. C. Bucher, M. Tamm, and J. D. Leuppi
Respiratory symptoms, atopy and bronchial hyperreactivity in professional firefighters
Eur. Respir. J.,
September 1, 2007;
30(3):
538 - 544.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. M. Samet, A. S. Geyh, and M. J. Utell
The Legacy of World Trade Center Dust
N. Engl. J. Med.,
May 31, 2007;
356(22):
2233 - 2236.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Izbicki, R. Chavko, G. I. Banauch, M. D. Weiden, K. I. Berger, T. K. Aldrich, C. Hall, K. J. Kelly, and D. J. Prezant
World Trade Center "Sarcoid-Like" Granulomatous Pulmonary Disease in New York City Fire Department Rescue Workers
Chest,
May 1, 2007;
131(5):
1414 - 1423.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. S. Nawrot, A. Nemmar, and B. Nemery
Update in Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2006
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
April 15, 2007;
175(8):
758 - 762.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. R. Balmes
The world trade center collapse: a continuing tragedy for lung health?
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
August 1, 2006;
174(3):
235 - 236.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
Copyright © 2006 American Thoracic Society
|
|
|
