The US National Institute of Environmental Health Science has published the results of monitoring the health impact of the destruction of the World Trade Centre on emergency workers and local residents.
The researchers noted show exposure-related increases in new-onset cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, and bronchial hyperreactivity more than 2 1/2 years after the disaster. In addition, follow-up of pregnant women who were inside or near the WTC buildings on September 11 found a two-fold increase in the incidence of small and low birth-weight babies.
“Our results indicate that the environmental exposures following the WTC disaster were associated with profound adverse effects on respiratory health,” said Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, chair of the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine and director of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at Mount Sinai, and principal author of the study.
“The collapse of the towers generated thousands of tons of particulate matter comprised of cement dust, glass fibers, asbestos, lead, aromatic hydrocarbons, and organochlorine compounds, many of which significantly increased the subjects’ susceptibility to bronchial spasms and asthma”
Further concerns have been raised about long-term health consequences of asbestos exposure in the wake of the disaster. Asbestos, principally chrysotile, was used in the construction of the North Tower during the early 1970’s. While some of this asbestos had been removed over the preceding 30 years, hundreds of tons remained on September 11 and were blasted free.