@article{9479350397de44a08c5b82b97b43f216,
title = "Persistent self-reported ear and hearing problems among World Trade Center-exposed firefighters and emergency medical service workers, 2001-2017—A longitudinal cohort analysis",
abstract = "Background: The goal of this study was to estimate the impact of exposure to the World Trade Center (WTC) site on annual and persistent rates of otalgia and hearing impairment among Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Workers (EMS). Methods: Responders completed routine physical health questionnaires at monitoring visits. We used logistic and marginal logistic regression models to explore the association between otalgia and hearing impairment and WTC arrival time. Results: The highest-exposed group had greater odds of persistent ear symptoms (OR 1.33, 95%CI 1.11-1.59) compared with the least-exposed; the odds of persistent hearing problems between the groups were not significantly different. We found consistent WTC-exposure gradients when the average population odds of these outcomes were assessed each year. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the odds of long-term ear symptoms were significantly associated with the intensity of WTC exposure.",
keywords = "hearing, prevalence, rescue/recovery workers, self-report, world trade center",
author = "Colbeth, {Hilary L.} and Rachel Zeig-Owens and Yang Liu and Webber, {Mayris P.} and Schwartz, {Theresa M.} and Hall, {Charles B.} and Prezant, {David J.}",
note = "Funding Information: This research was supported through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) contract numbers 200-2011-39378, 200-2011-39383, 200-2017-93326, 200-2017-93426; NIOSH had no role in study design; collection, analysis, and/or interpretation of data; writing the report; and the decision to submit the report for publication. RZO and DJP had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Concept and Design: RZO, MPW, and DJP. Acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data: All authors. Drafting of the manuscript: HLC. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors. Statistical analysis: HLC and YL. This research was supported through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) contract numbers 200-2011-39378, 200-2011-39383, 200-2017-93326, 200-2017-93426; NIOSH had no role in study design; collection, analysis, and/or interpretation of data; writing the report; and the decision to submit the report for publication. This work was performed at the Fire Department of the City of New York. The Albert Einstein College of Medicine Institutional Review Board reviewed and approved this study. Data were used from participants who provided written consent. All authors received support from grants and/or contracts from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. John Meyer declares that he has no competing or conflicts of interest in the review and publication decision regarding this article. The Fire Department of the City of New York had no role in study design; collection, analysis, and/or interpretation of data; writing the report; and the decision to submit the report for publication. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.",
year = "2019",
month = jan,
doi = "10.1002/ajim.22925",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "62",
pages = "43--49",
journal = "American Journal of Industrial Medicine",
issn = "0271-3586",
publisher = "Wiley-Liss Inc.",
number = "1",
}
