NYC-WTC_000199863

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Feldman, Debra M., MD, NIOSH, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, Mailstop R-10, 513/458-7153 EIS Class Year ofEntryB2000 No previous EIS Conference presentations Mackel Award consideration: no Willing to present at International Night: yes Number of abstracts submitted: 1 Priority of this abstract; 1st

Debra M Feldman, Philip Edelman, Sherry Baron, Chuck Mueller, Bruce Bernard, Boris D Lushniak, Kerry J Kelly and David J Prezant

Health Effects, Respirator Use and Biomonitoring Results Among New York City Firefighters Responding to the World Trade Center (WTC) Disaster B September, 2001

Background: Thousands of firefighters responding to the WTC collapse were exposed to a myriad of chemical

and physical hazards, although limited initial environmental data were collected. This study characterizes

firefighter exposures and health effects.

Methods: A sample of400 firefighters was selected to represent those responding during the collapse (group-

1), within 48 hours but after the collapse (group-2), on days 3-7 (group-3) and not responding (group-4). From

October 2-6, 2001, firefighters completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding health effects and

respirator use, and provided blood and urine samples which were analyzed for metals, cyanide, hydrocarbons.

biphenyls, dioxins and volatile organic compounds by CDC/NCEH using NHANES protocols.

Results: Of 363 firefighters (participation rate=80%), 150 were group-1, 141 group-2, 28 group-3 and 44

group-4. Symptom rates for group-H-2 , group-3 and group-4 were: skin 44%, 18%, 7%, eye 71%,46%,7% and

respiratory 75%, 46%, 9%, respectively. Prevalence Rate Ratios (PRR), group-1+2 vs group-4 were: skin 6.40

(95%Confidence interval [CI]=2.13-19.23), eye 10.38 (95%CI=3.47-31.03) and respiratory 8.28 (95% CI=3.24-

21.12). Group-3 PRRs were statistically intermediate; 95% CI all excludedl.O. Reported respirator use was

“rarely/not at all” (vs. “mostly”) by 87% of those in group-1+2 present on day-1 compared with 67% in groups

1-3 still present during week-2. Although biological monitoring results were within normal limits, results

differed significantly by exposure groups.

Conclusions: This evaluation of firefighters demonstrates a relationship between time of arrival and skin, eye.

and respiratory symptoms. Further investigation is needed to direct both long-term follow-up and preventive

measures for protecting responders to future disasters.

Keywords: World Trade Center, biomonitoring, respirators, metals, terrorism, firefighters

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NYC-WTC_000199863