Abstract
Rationale: On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center collapse created an enormous urban disaster site with high levels of airborne pollutants. First responders, rescue and recovery workers, and residents have since reported respiratory symptoms and developed pulmonary function abnormalities. Objectives: To quantify respiratory health effects of World Trade Center exposure in the New York City Fire Department. Measurements: Longitudinal study of pulmonary function in 12,079 New York City Fire Department rescue workers employed on or before 09/11/2001. Between 01/01/1997 and 09/11/2002, 31,994 spirometries were obtained and the FEV1 and FVCwere analyzed for differences according to estimated World Trade Center exposure intensity. Adjusted average FEV1 during the first year after 09/11/2001 was compared with the 5 yr before 09/11/2001. Median time between 09/11/2001 and a worker's first spirometry afterwards was 3 mo; 90% were assessed within 5 mo. Main Results: World Trade Center-exposed workers experienced a substantial reduction in adjusted average FEV1 during the year after 09/11/2001 (372 ml; 95% confidence interval, 364-381 ml; p < 0.001) This exposure-related FEV1 decrement equaled 12 yr of aging-related FEV1 decline. Moreover, exposure intensity assessed by initial arrival time at the World Trade Center site correlated linearly with FEV1 reduction in an exposure intensity-response gradient (p = 0.048). Respiratory symptoms also predicted a further FEV1 decrease (p < 0.001). Similar findings were observed for adjusted average FVC. Conclusions: World Trade Center exposure produced a substantial reduction in pulmonary function in New York City Fire Department rescue workers during the first year after 09/11/2001.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 312-319 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine |
| Volume | 174 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 1 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Building collapse
- FEV decline
- Rescue worker
- Respiratory health consequences of 09/11/2001
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Cite this
Pulmonary function after exposure to the World Trade Center collapse in the New York City Fire Department. / Banauch, Gisela I.; Hall, Charles B.; Weiden, Michael; Cohen, Hillel W.; Aldrich, Thomas K.; Christodoulou, Vasillios; Arcentales, Nicole; Kelly, Kerry J.; Prezant, David J.
In: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol. 174, No. 3, 01.08.2006, p. 312-319.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Pulmonary function after exposure to the World Trade Center collapse in the New York City Fire Department
AU - Banauch, Gisela I.
AU - Hall, Charles B.
AU - Weiden, Michael
AU - Cohen, Hillel W.
AU - Aldrich, Thomas K.
AU - Christodoulou, Vasillios
AU - Arcentales, Nicole
AU - Kelly, Kerry J.
AU - Prezant, David J.
PY - 2006/8/1
Y1 - 2006/8/1
N2 - Rationale: On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center collapse created an enormous urban disaster site with high levels of airborne pollutants. First responders, rescue and recovery workers, and residents have since reported respiratory symptoms and developed pulmonary function abnormalities. Objectives: To quantify respiratory health effects of World Trade Center exposure in the New York City Fire Department. Measurements: Longitudinal study of pulmonary function in 12,079 New York City Fire Department rescue workers employed on or before 09/11/2001. Between 01/01/1997 and 09/11/2002, 31,994 spirometries were obtained and the FEV1 and FVCwere analyzed for differences according to estimated World Trade Center exposure intensity. Adjusted average FEV1 during the first year after 09/11/2001 was compared with the 5 yr before 09/11/2001. Median time between 09/11/2001 and a worker's first spirometry afterwards was 3 mo; 90% were assessed within 5 mo. Main Results: World Trade Center-exposed workers experienced a substantial reduction in adjusted average FEV1 during the year after 09/11/2001 (372 ml; 95% confidence interval, 364-381 ml; p < 0.001) This exposure-related FEV1 decrement equaled 12 yr of aging-related FEV1 decline. Moreover, exposure intensity assessed by initial arrival time at the World Trade Center site correlated linearly with FEV1 reduction in an exposure intensity-response gradient (p = 0.048). Respiratory symptoms also predicted a further FEV1 decrease (p < 0.001). Similar findings were observed for adjusted average FVC. Conclusions: World Trade Center exposure produced a substantial reduction in pulmonary function in New York City Fire Department rescue workers during the first year after 09/11/2001.
AB - Rationale: On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center collapse created an enormous urban disaster site with high levels of airborne pollutants. First responders, rescue and recovery workers, and residents have since reported respiratory symptoms and developed pulmonary function abnormalities. Objectives: To quantify respiratory health effects of World Trade Center exposure in the New York City Fire Department. Measurements: Longitudinal study of pulmonary function in 12,079 New York City Fire Department rescue workers employed on or before 09/11/2001. Between 01/01/1997 and 09/11/2002, 31,994 spirometries were obtained and the FEV1 and FVCwere analyzed for differences according to estimated World Trade Center exposure intensity. Adjusted average FEV1 during the first year after 09/11/2001 was compared with the 5 yr before 09/11/2001. Median time between 09/11/2001 and a worker's first spirometry afterwards was 3 mo; 90% were assessed within 5 mo. Main Results: World Trade Center-exposed workers experienced a substantial reduction in adjusted average FEV1 during the year after 09/11/2001 (372 ml; 95% confidence interval, 364-381 ml; p < 0.001) This exposure-related FEV1 decrement equaled 12 yr of aging-related FEV1 decline. Moreover, exposure intensity assessed by initial arrival time at the World Trade Center site correlated linearly with FEV1 reduction in an exposure intensity-response gradient (p = 0.048). Respiratory symptoms also predicted a further FEV1 decrease (p < 0.001). Similar findings were observed for adjusted average FVC. Conclusions: World Trade Center exposure produced a substantial reduction in pulmonary function in New York City Fire Department rescue workers during the first year after 09/11/2001.
KW - Building collapse
KW - FEV decline
KW - Rescue worker
KW - Respiratory health consequences of 09/11/2001
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746585632&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33746585632&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1164/rccm.200511-1736OC
DO - 10.1164/rccm.200511-1736OC
M3 - Article
VL - 174
SP - 312
EP - 319
JO - American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
JF - American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
SN - 1073-449X
IS - 3
ER -