Early Findings from Selected Works

More than 71,000 people enrolled in the WTC Health Registry and completed the baseline survey (Wave 1) between 2003 and 2004. Based on the data collected, the Registry described the multiple short-term health effects associated with 9/11 exposure.

Overview of 9/11 exposures and health outcomes

Among those enrolled in the Registry, the majority reported witnessing traumatizing events on 9/11 (70%), such as seeing people running away from the dust cloud (53%), buildings collapsing (47%), seeing people injured or killed (33%), falling or jumping from the towers (29%) or seeing an airplane hit the towers (29%). More than half (51%) reported being caught in the dust cloud on 9/11. Nearly 13% of enrollees suffered a physical injury. With respect to self-reported health conditions, over half (67%) reported new or worsening respiratory symptoms, nearly 3% reported newly diagnosed asthma following 9/11, 16% screened positive for probable PTSD, and 8% screened positive for serious psychological distress. These adverse outcomes were associated with having experienced at least one of the 9/11 aforementioned exposures. (Farfel et al.; Journal of Urban Health,2008)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Probable PTSD among lower Manhattan residents

One of the first studies to examine PTSD 2-3 years after 9/11 found that the prevalence of PTSD among 11,037 lower Manhattan residents enrolled in the Registry was 13%. The risk was greater among older adults (aged 45-64) and women. This study marked one of the first to examine the long-term mental health impacts among people directly exposed to 9/11. (DiGrande et al.; Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2008)

Probable PTSD among WTC tower survivors

Few studies had examined the mental health status among 9/11 survivors who were present in the WTC towers. Findings from this early study found that the probable rate of PTSD was 15% among those who evacuated the WTC towers 1 and 2 with almost all survivors having reported at least one posttraumatic stress symptom. The prevalence of PTSD was also highest among those who worked for an employer who experienced 9/11 fatalities. These findings suggest the need for long-term and follow-up mental health assessment among 9/11 civilian survivors. (DiGrande et al.; American Journal of Epidemiology, 2010)

Respiratory Health

Newly diagnosed asthma among WTC site workers

Data obtained from the baseline survey was used to estimate the risk of newly diagnosed asthma among 25,748 WTC site workers and volunteers with no previous history of diagnosed asthma. Nearly 4 percent of workers reported new asthma diagnosed by a health care provider after 9/11. Workers also provided their time and duration spent working on the WTC site and their use of masks or respirators during that time. Increased risk was among workers with earlier arrival to the site, total duration of work, delays in protective gear use, and exposure to the dust cloud. (Wheeler et al.; Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007)

Respiratory symptoms among children under age 5

More than half (53%) of the 3,184 children in the Registry younger than age 18 on 9/11 reported at least one new or worsened respiratory symptom 2-3 years after 9/11 and 6% reported a new asthma diagnosis. Children under the age of 5 who were caught in the dust cloud on 9/11 were at increased risk for new asthma. The prevalence of asthma after 9/11 among Registry children was higher than the national estimates at that time. (Thomas et al.; Environmental Health Perspectives, 2008)

Findings from selected works

More than 71,000 people enrolled in the WTC Health Registry and completed the baseline survey (Wave 1) between 2003 and 2004. Based on the data collected, the Registry described the multiple short-term health effects associated with 9/11 exposure.

Overview of 9/11 exposures and health outcomes

Among those enrolled in the Registry, the majority reported witnessing traumatizing events on 9/11 (70%), such as seeing people running away from the dust cloud (53%), buildings collapsing (47%), seeing people injured or killed (33%), falling or jumping from the towers (29%) or seeing an airplane hit the towers (29%). More than half (51%) reported being caught in the dust cloud on 9/11. Nearly 13% of enrollees suffered a physical injury. With respect to self-reported health conditions, over half (67%) reported new or worsening respiratory symptoms, nearly 3% reported newly diagnosed asthma following 9/11, 16% screened positive for probable PTSD, and 8% screened positive for serious psychological distress. These adverse outcomes were associated with having experienced at least one of the 9/11 aforementioned exposures. (Farfel et al.; Journal of Urban Health,2008)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Probable PTSD among lower Manhattan residents

One of the first studies to examine PTSD 2-3 years after 9/11 found that the prevalence of PTSD among 11,037 lower Manhattan residents enrolled in the Registry was 13%. The risk was greater among older adults (aged 45-64) and women. This study marked one of the first to examine the long-term mental health impacts among people directly exposed to 9/11. (DiGrande et al.; Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2008)

Probable PTSD among WTC tower survivors

Few studies had examined the mental health status among 9/11 survivors who were present in the WTC towers. Findings from this early study found that the probable rate of PTSD was 15% among those who evacuated the WTC towers 1 and 2 with almost all survivors having reported at least one posttraumatic stress symptom. The prevalence of PTSD was also highest among those who worked for an employer who experienced 9/11 fatalities. These findings suggest the need for long-term and follow-up mental health assessment among 9/11 civilian survivors. (DiGrande et al.; American Journal of Epidemiology, 2010)

Respiratory Health

Newly diagnosed asthma among WTC site workers

Data obtained from the baseline survey was used to estimate the risk of newly diagnosed asthma among 25,748 WTC site workers and volunteers with no previous history of diagnosed asthma. Nearly 4 percent of workers reported new asthma diagnosed by a health care provider after 9/11. Workers also provided their time and duration spent working on the WTC site and their use of masks or respirators during that time. Increased risk was among workers with earlier arrival to the site, total duration of work, delays in protective gear use, and exposure to the dust cloud. (Wheeler et al.; Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007)

Respiratory symptoms among children under age 5

More than half (53%) of the 3,184 children in the Registry younger than age 18 on 9/11 reported at least one new or worsened respiratory symptom 2-3 years after 9/11 and 6% reported a new asthma diagnosis. Children under the age of 5 who were caught in the dust cloud on 9/11 were at increased risk for new asthma. The prevalence of asthma after 9/11 among Registry children was higher than the national estimates at that time. (Thomas et al.; Environmental Health Perspectives, 2008)