News report on health testing program for WTC workers, 2002

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Fr6e Tests for Recovery Workers Program will track long-term health effects By Margaret Ramirez with pereistent respiratory symptoms most likely resulting STAFF WHITER frominhalmgpulverizedconcreteandfiberglassSept.il . In the first effort to track long-term health effects of ’ “We’ve seen workers and volunteers whose fives are still the World Trade Center coUapse, Sen. Hillary Rodham shaken by the psychological symptoms of post-traumatic Clinton on Friday announced a $12 million program that stress disorder and significant depression,” Levin said. will offer free medical tests for more than 8,000 police of- “What we don’t know is what the long-term health conse- ficers, rescue workers and volunteers potentially ex- quences for these workers might be.” posed to hazardous substances. Levin said that within a week the hospital would estab- At a news conference in the senator’s midtown offices, fish a toll-free number for those seeking examinations. Clinton said thousands participated in the recoveiy efforts Calls will be screened based on exposure to dust and debris, at Ground Zero and later at the Fresh Rills landfill on Stat- and those at greatest risk will be scheduled first, he said. en Island. Even so, there are only two groups systematically Although gathering information is the focus of the tracking health problems ofthose exposed workers: the Fire project. Levin said there is a more important goal. Department and the state government. “It’s not just a research project. It’s making sure that peo- The new program, which will be overseen by the Mount pie who need medical care will get it,” Levin said. Sinai Hospital-Irving J- Sefikoff Center for Occupational Tom Scotto, president of the Detective’s Endowment Medicine, will provide an estimated 8,500 free medical ex- Associationsaid he was pleased that a medical program aminations at five occupational medicine centers in the had been established for the hundreds of police officers New York region and several other clinics nationwide. who worked at Ground Zero. “We know that there have been health consequences Scotto also expressed concern for officers working at the for those workers and volunteers on the pile,” Clinton Fresh Kills landfill, where Ground Zero debris is taken. said. “By arming ourselves with the facts now, we can do “There are 500 New York City detectives, every day, 24 a better job of protecting workers’ health in the future.” hours a day, at the Staten Island landfill,” Scotto said. “And Dr. Stephen Levin, medical director ofthe Mount Sinai oc- in many cases, people will teU you that exposure was far cupational health center, said his sti^h^s^p hundreds, .greater than the World Trade Centen’l,,, . .. . , ,

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