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NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

FEATURE HEALTH AND SAFETY

Screening Program May Shed Light On Exposure to Contaminants But workers are slow to take federally funded exams

M o,st workers and volunteers at of the Mount Sinai occupational medi­ add, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and Ground Zero have long returned cine center. But. he notes that asthma-like asbestos, he say.s. Among all types of to their old jobs or taken new conditions were already showing up in workers screened .so far, two out of three assignments far from the once- patients he had checked last fall. “It showed symptom,s of “respiratory diffi­ deva.stated site. But the issue of potential became clear people inhaled airborne culty” and “persistent psychological dis­ health ri.sks for a,s many as .30,000 partici­ irritants,” he .says. An earlier screen of 100 tress.” pants, in construction and other sectors, ironworkers also revealed “rates of Vamadevan Ragumar, a 40-year-old could .stay with diem. The impact of expo­ obstructive disease independent of smok­ technical manager for Verizon Corp., sure to site contaminants is only now ing,” l,evin says. “I was surprised by that.” who survived escape from his office on being felt as worker screening expands, The lengthy screen, managed by a 60- WTC Tower 2's 9th floor, was screened providing new data on collective .symp­ person .staff that includes 8 phy.sicians, last month “just to make sure I’m toms and po.s,sibly new fuel for litigation. covers everything from pulmonary func­ healthy,” he says. He had spent 10 min­ In July, the Center for Occupational & tion tests and chest X-ray.s to psychologi­ utes in the building’s post-collapse cloud Environmental Medicine at New York cal screen.s and detailed medical histo­ of smoke and debris. City’s Mount Sinai Medical Center ries before and after Sept. 11. With few Some firnrs have instituted their own launched a $T2-million effort, to screen construction workers examined. Levin post-Ground Zero medical screening Ground Zero workers, including those doe.s not yet liave much solid data on and counseling programs, “but very few involved at Fresh Kills landfill in Staten exposures. But toxicology tests have people have taken us up,” .says (ames Island, for respiratory, psychological and revealed varying levels of hydrochloric Abadie, senior vice president of Bovis other conditions. The federally funded Lend Lease. Executives say effort will cover 8,500 exams, including they know of no worker 1,000 outside New York City, over the health-related lawsuits yet. next. year. Federal and state employees 'I’hey may yet happen. and city firefighters are being screened in other efforts. Trade Center^ Thomas P. Maguire, presi­ dent of operating engineers The program is only slowly attracting Local 1.6, wrote to members prospects, with 250 screened .so far, says last spring, noting the possi­ Stephen Levin, co-director of the Y fi bility of claims against agen- screening program and medical director cie.s and private intere.sts “for breathing problems that have occurred or may occur in the future.”The let­ ■ ter includes a questionnaire that sffk- information on III members’ WTC work expe­ rience, possible symptoms and treat­ ment. “We’re trying to get a complete assessment,” says Maguire. “Our mem­

Wl bers feel fine now. It might be 20 years before we see the residuals,” Expanding the Mount Sinai program is uncertain. New York Sen. Hillary Rod­ tr s UI

fcssiSS ham Clinton (D) sought $90 million for extended WTC screening and treatment S z

to be included in a $5.1-billion emer­ gency spending bill that President Bush would not sign. A Clinton spokesman § says the funds may be attached to an upcoming federal agency fiscal 2003 □ HAZY Exposure to airborne substances is being tested In hospital program. spending bill. I By Debra K. Rubin s

SEPTEMBER 9. 2002/ENR 15

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