Purpose
To investigate whether New York State employees who responded to the World Trade Center disaster were more likely to report
asthma or lower respiratory symptoms (LRS; cough, wheeze, chest tightness, shortness of breath) than non-exposed employees,
2 years post-September 11.
Methods
Participants (578 exposed, 702 non-exposed) completed mailed questionnaires in 2003. A unique exposure assessment method was
used; exposure scores were divided at the mean (at/below, above). Poisson regression was used.
Results
Exposure was associated with LRS, but not asthma. Participants with exposure scores at/below the mean had a twofold increased
risk of most LRS. Those with scores above the mean had a three to fourfold increased risk. For scores above the mean, the
magnitude of effect was consistently higher for smoke exposure.
Conclusions
Moderately exposed responders may experience health impacts from exposures in later stages of a disaster. Exposure to smoke
may have had a greater lower respiratory impact than resuspended dust.
Keywords World Trade Center disaster - September 11, 2001 - Asthma - Lower Respiratory Symptoms - Smoke - Dust