Respiratory Health Outcomes Among World Trade Center Disaster Workers 5–7 Years After September 11, 2001

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ekenga CC
• Description:
  Background: Respiratory symptoms and diseases have been among the most examined health outcomes in studies of World Trade Center (WTC) disaster workers. WTC cough, pulmonary function abnormalities, newly-diagnosed asthma, and persistent respiratory symptoms have all been documented in epidemiologic studies of WTC disaster workers. A major limitation of these studies, however, has been their use of qualitative methods for exposure assessment. Objectives: This dissertation examined the relationship between chronic WTC dust exposure and reported respiratory outcomes among pile workers from the WTC Health Registry, a cohort of WTC-exposed persons. Methods: Personal monitoring data combined with information collected from WTC Health Registry questionnaires were used to develop a semi-quantitative dust exposure index for 6,930 WTC disaster workers. Multivariable Log-binomial regression was used to estimate the independent effect of chronic WTC dust exposure on respiratory outcomes after September 11, 2001. Results: Chronic dust exposure at the WTC site was associated with self-reported respiratory symptoms and newly diagnosed (after September 11, 2001) respiratory diseases among WTC pile workers. Workers in the High dust exposure category were more likely to report lower (PRadj = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.06-1.36) and upper (PRadj = 1.15, 95% CI:1.07-1.24) respiratory symptoms than workers in the Low dust exposure category. Compared to Low dust exposed workers, there was an increased prevalence of new onset asthma (PRadj = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.28-1.99), RADS (PRadj = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.39-3.09), COPD (PRadj = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.30-2.51), and chronic bronchitis (PRadj = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.28-2.39) among High dust exposed workers. Conclusions: Chronic dust exposure at WTC site was associated with respiratory symptoms and diseases among WTC Health Registry disaster workers. These findings provide an example of a semi-quantitative exposure index in retrospective exposure assessments after an environmental disaster. The exposure index developed in this dissertation has identified a highly dust-exposed group of WTC disaster workers that may be at greater risk for adverse respiratory outcomes than other WTC disaster workers. Epidemiologic studies along with continued surveillance will be vital in understanding the respiratory health burden associated with WTC dust exposure after the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center disaster. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Dust
  • Epidemiology
  • Occupational Health
  • Respiratory System
  • Safety
  • September 11 Terrorist Attacks
• Keywords:
  • World Trade Center
  • WTC
  • Disaster response
  • Health effects
  • Epidemiology
  • Respiratory health
  • Exposure assessment
  • Dust exposure
  • Disaster clean-up
  • Surveillance
• ISBN:
  9781124807713
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Dissertation
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-238
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062352
• Citation:
  Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2011 May; :3466875
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Performing Organization:
  New York City Health/Mental Hygiene
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090430
• Source Full Name:
  Respiratory health outcomes among World Trade Center disaster workers 5-7 years after September 11, 2001
• End Date:
  20260630
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225619/cdc_225619_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.49 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:645fa9ffab176e0ea8d620d974be999ab05e91b854bc5a2092f072a593f50107fb6338341b6529f95a3952d4b6087e245a2e633e698573091eb6897d08f7236a