News article about recovery and commemoration, Sept 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

CungAilmentMay Force500Firefighters Off^Job particles <aa he digested aid re­ moved. But in some cases, Br. Pre- mid ANDREW C. REVKIN As many as 50G New York City firefttfStors mayhave to retire early as a result ett “respiratory disabili­ ty,” chronic breathing problems ctBised Ity totdr exposure to 4teJS€ the number thm occurred in 11 months before the attack. Reports on the firefi^iters' inju­ ries and illnesses are to be published tomorrow by the Centers for Disease Crantrol and Prevention, and another, zant said, “the eizymes used to di­ gest them can teal to lung infiamma- titm and destruction, and that’s vdiy, in some people, the healing response can be part of the illness.” Dr. Prezant said that one of the most important findings of the study ¥ Clauds of dust, smdce and fumes at to be published on Tbursday in the toe World Trade Center, health offi- wa" that many of the firefighters ciatesaid yesterday. flew England Journal of Medicine, with persistent cough and other res- The potential departureof toe fire­ has already been published on the piratory problems also had heart- fighters comes as toe department is journal’s Web site, ■wwwju^m.com. barn, or gastroesophageal reflux, a still scrupling todealwith toelossof Over all, the surviving firefighters condition in which stomach add 341 firo^fatero and 2 paramedics, have fared both better and worse backs up into the esophagus and who imste saatooi the 2,801 people than doctors expected. Cratisidering throat. He said swallowing the parti­ kflled in toe collapse of toe twin that neariy all of the city’s more than cles may irritate the stomach and 11,600 firefighters worked at the site, est^agus, and that in the firefight­ towers after the attach on Sept. 11. and that 90 percent developed a ers, the condition may have b^ Asof Aug 28,358 firefighters and S cough, the proportion with chronic aggravated by stress, long hours and emergency medical workers we» pR*!ems is relatively small still an medical leave or iW “Some m^ht have thought the irregular meal times. because <rf re^iratory disordears saW percentage would be higj»r,” sald before thesedoctors He bad not realized -.’■■rs aaw'* a™'’ ■nr . Dr. Prezant, vdto is alsoaprofessor tlon or swaBowlngcases that heavy inhala- at Albert Einstein College of Medi­ could bring on reflux. of The particulates reflux may and otter astomaiike symptoms. SF 'ira-v'W'W cine and an author of both reports. cause the respiratory problems rar In the firefighters who do have them worse, he said. nus infiaramationand heartburn. lingering symptoms, however, the make ■“This is critically important for prcblems have been more severe physicians to know,” he said, be­ and persistent than doctors ■would cause the cough not improve DepartmQa, sald (toctors did not have eqwcted. Dr. Prezant said, in unless the reflux isdoes treated. know exactly what the affected the past, among firefighters who had The report by the disease centers wffl*«^.,^‘>tieeOvWWBa/toi or respiratory problems from smoke also a summary of a survey, inhalation, 90 percent recovered. But takenincludes 6 weeks after the attack, of among the 332 firefighters who had a 'WMraFw.'aUU ’afiaiAAM. severe case of “World Trade Center pecqjle who lived near the trade caa> cough,” only 48 percent have fully ter. About 75 percent were initially .. sertoffli hnEg dlseases nr amcer. evacuated frmn their bosses. Many recovered and returned to wtak. Se­ reported Their current jprableais are vere cases were defined as those that ttiey had had health tinaght to have been cansedity toe needing four or more consecutive problems: 66 percent bad nose or iHhalatiraa and swdtowh« of fine weeks of medical leave. particles created by toe fires and Dr. Prezant said the reason that coBapse. Workers who had the symptoms were so severe was the heaviem exposure — thoese who probably that the concentration of were toero ttoen toe buildings cd- particles was ■very high. a«d the ex­ l^jsod and in toe first tew days mad posures prolonged and repeated. wetos afim - had toe highest Incl- “We’re never going to know toe dencE of re^iratory trouble. Very fill! scale of what the firefighters lew nres^nters osea respjraiOTs or ' were exposed to on that day,” Dr. t-iLifTi n n HawiQtMno 4jn tt Prezant said. Be said that air quality toe early days after toe attack, when testing did not b^in until severi toe air was at tte wrarat. ; das« after the attack. But he said Is addition to toe 363 firefighters ! everyiMie at the site was clearly ex- buutoSs^qb wCwftofirs watt rcS|i«*«u*ry j posed to “a massive dust cloud” full dlsabiltty, 213 others were on leave ■ of tiny particles that could be inhaled with emraitotml stress resulting frmn I into toe airways and lungs. toeir work at toe site and from toeir grief ovmr toe deatoa so ramiy “Even if that respirable airborne particulate matter does not include a 'I d/k-“TJiwno friends and co-workers. The number single chemical, it is incredibly toxic of stress-related Inddarts observed at that level of exposure.” Dr. Pre­ aonag fte workers di the n zant ^d, adding that there was a months after the atta* 7 Unes great deal of evidence that exposure to such material can cause increased rates of chronic lung disease like emphysema and heart disease. The very finest particles can make their way into the depths of the lung and persist there for a long time, he said. Some particles, like asbestos fibers, stay in the lung forever. Other

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