Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)-Related Mortality Among World Trade Center-Exposed and Non-World Trade Center-Exposed Rescue and Recovery Workers

Details

• Journal Article:
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Personal Author:
  Singh, Ankura ; Zeig-Owens, Rachel ; Cannon, Madeline F. ; Moline, Tyrone ; Schwartz, Theresa M. ; Prezant, David J.
• Description:
  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare but fatal neurodegenerative disease. Some occupational exposures are associated with ALS. This study evaluated ALS mortality rates in World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed and non-WTC-exposed rescue/recovery workers. Fire department workers who were 18-70 years old on 11 September 2001 (9/11) were included in the study (N = 33,122). Follow-up began on the later of 9/11 or on their hire date, and ended at the earliest death date or 31 December 2023. Cause of death data were obtained from the National Death Index; ALS (specifically motor neuron disease)-related mortality was the primary outcome. Demographic data were obtained from the fire departments' databases. We estimated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% CIs for ALS-related mortality in WTC-exposed and non-WTC-exposed workers using US population rates as a reference. Multivariable-adjusted Poisson regression models estimated relative rates (RRs) and 95% CIs for ALS-related mortality in the WTC-exposed vs. non-WTC-exposed groups. Between 9/11 and 31 December 2023, five WTC-exposed and sixteen non-WTC-exposed participants died of ALS. ALS mortality rates were lower in WTC-exposed than in non-WTC-exposed rescue/recovery workers (RR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.49-0.60). ALS-related mortality was not elevated in WTC-exposed (SMR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.14-1.03) or non-WTC-exposed rescue/recovery workers (SMR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.60-1.72) compared with the US general population. This initial evaluation of ALS in WTC-exposed workers indicates that the risk of ALS death is not increased in this population.
• Subjects:
  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Epidemiology Firefighters Nervous System Nervous System Diseases Occupational Health Safety September 11 Terrorist Attacks
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Mortality; Motor Neuron Disease; Occupational Health; Firefighters WTC; World Trade Center; Fire Fighters; Mortality Rates; Epidemiology; Neurological Diseases; Rescue Workers; Disaster Recovery;
• Source:
  Int J Environ Res Public Health 2025 Nov; 22(11):1712
• ISSN:
  1660-4601
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement; Contract
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; New York City Region [OSHA] ; New York City (NY)
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  WTCHP - World Trade Center Health Program
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  10 pdf pages
• Volume:
  22
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071229
• Contact Point Address:
  Rachel Zeig-Owens, DrPH, FDNY Headquarters, 9 Metrotech Center 1PP-11E03, Brooklyn, NY 11201
• Email:
  Rachel.Zeig-Owens@fdny.nyc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2026
• Performing Organization:
  Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20160901
• End Date:
  20210831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a3fb674a8b80330fc5f8d772857c4f9a5aa661df38e10e0fe4f79a52c9967ded323d3ffacc71daef9d8de438afae101983cc0ed2fd414e049efedafed4c9f18f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/258708/cdc_258708_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 255.45 KB ]