News article on WTC worker health study results, 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29.2003 STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

TAKING US INSIDE THE TOWERS

Health problems revealed in WTC workers 48 percent of workers had sued prelimin^ findings in visited the hospital and re­ January, described the oi^o- gional centers nationwide be­ ear, nose and throat ing examination of the data in tween July 2002 — when the interviews this week with The program began — and April problems and 30 percent Associated Press. A formal 2003. To date, about 7,500 had pulmonary problems updated analysis is expected workers have been examined, within the next several weeks. Moline said, with the results The researchers’ comments of about woo quantified. By JUSTIN GLANVILLE come a week after the inspec­ The program is considered ASSOCIATED PRESS one of the leading studies of tor general of the Environ- - mental Protection Agency health problems in the after­ Ne^ly two years after the criticized that agency for math of the Sept, u attack. terrorist attacks on the World downplaying air quality risks “What they’re doing is so Trade Center, a medical in public statements after the important, because it’s the screening program continues attack. only way we’re going to find to reveal a surprisingly high out what will happen to peo­ rate of physiem and mental PERMANENT DAMAGE ple who were down there,” health problems among “Jt was such a massive irri- said Dr. Robin Gershon, a pro­ cleanup.and rescue workers at tant exposure,” Moline said. fessor of sociomedical sci­ , “Some people will be left with „ . ences at Columbia University ASSOCIATED PRESS u.- u x About 48 percent of work- permanent respiratory symp- Nearly two years after this photo who is not affiliated with the ers screened had ear, nose toms.” was taken of smoke pouring from program. “It’s like following and throat problems such as Soot from the collapse of the World Trade Center, a medical the canary in the coal mine.” nasal congestion, hoarseness, the towers contained asbes- screening program continues to COST OF $12M headaches and throat irrita- tos, lead, glass fibers and con- reveal a high number of problems in , • • u j tion, according to the latest crete. people who worked at the site figures from the program. An- On the mental health side following the terrorist attacks. other 30 percent had pulmo- of the study, about 19 percent nary problems, including of patients have been diag-

screened between July 2002 eral population, said Dr. Craig those screened have reported . £ million. Moline and AprU 2003, but the dmec- Katz, supervisor of the pro- psychologic^ problems that MostofSe fimdingS tor of the program s medical gram’s psychological compo- warrant additional counsel- come from the federal Cen- component said patients have nent ing, including insomnia, trou- Disease Control and continued to report symp- Surprisingly, he said, the ble focusing and irritability. Prevention. toms at about the same rate percentage remained con- ncDoeccnw rawe The program evaluates smee then. stant throughout the program. WErKESSiuw VASts subject only once. Those “It is surprising that it’s Typically, people with PTSD Those symptoms are all po- who need further medical or lasted this long,” said Dr. Jac- have an immediate peak in tential signs of depression, psychological treatment (not queline Moline of Mount symptoms, followed by a de- But they’ve added up to a di- funded by the program) are Sinai Medical Center, which cline and then a second peak agnosis of major depression in referred to specialists. is administering the screening one to two years later. only 5 to 8 percent of patients Several otner ongoing stud­ in conjunction with the Na- “You’d expect that it would — about the same as in the ies are PYamining the health tional Institute for Occupa- wane with time,” he said. “But general populating Katz said, of workers and residents who tional Safety and Health. it’s been the same kind of The Mount Sinai figures were at or near ground zero The researchers, who is- problems, the same kind of re- are for site workers who have during or after the attacks.

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