Law Department notice on WTC document preservation, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Health Impacts of Lack of Respirator Use at Ground Zero

Two studies documented acute health effects suffered by emergency and construction workers at Ground Zero. A study^'* of firefighters who responded to the collapse concluded that intense, short-term exposure to material generated during the collapse of the World Trade Center was associated with bronchial responsiveness and the development of cough. The study found that the following percentages of firefighters developed “World Trade Center cough” that was severe enough to require at least 4 weeks of medical leave:

• 8 percent of the firefighters with a high level of exposure to contaminants at the site (i.e., present at the WTC collapse).

• 3 percent of the firefighters with a moderate level of exposure to contaminants at the site (i.e., present within first 2 days after the collapse).

• 1 percent of the firefighters with a low level of exposure to contaminants at the site (i.e., present within 3-7 days of the collapse).

Initial findings of medical examinations of workers directly involved in rescue and recovery efforts also found evidence of acute health impacts. Preliminary results of these examinations released in January 2003 and reported in the Washington Post concluded that 78 percent of those sampled had suffered lung ailments and 88 percent had experienced ear, nose, and throat problems in the months immediately following the attack. Further, a September 2002 report^ by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine concluded that protection of workers at Ground Zero was “seriously inadequate.” The report noted that the response of workers in the first few hours and days after the attack without regard to their personal safety was laudable and understandable. However, according to the Mount Sinai report, a lack of enforcement of worker protection measures in the weeks and months that followed was not excusable.

24 “Cough and Bronchial Responsiveness in Firefighters at the World Trade Center Site,” David J. Prezant, M.D., et al, New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 347, No. 11, September 12,2002. 25 “Lesson Learned for Public Health from September 11,2001; .4 One-Yar Perspective, ” Philip J. Landrigan, M.D., M.Sc., et al, September 2002. 101 Report No. 2003-P-00012

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