World Trade Center related health among NYC firefighters and EMS workers

After the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks on September 11, 2001, the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) instituted a WTC medical monitoring and treatment program and established a data center to document health outcomes in the WTC-exposed workforce of ~16,000 firefighters and EMS workers. FDNY WTC medical monitoring exams are scheduled every 12-18 months, and physical and mental health treatment appointments are provided as needed. FDNY research studies have consistently found that early arrival to work and/or prolonged work at the WTC site increased the risks for adverse physical and mental health outcomes. To date, a substantial proportion has been diagnosed with obstructive airways disease, chronic rhinosinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease; a quarter has two or more of these conditions. And, over 1500 responders have been certified by the federal government as having a WTC-related cancer. FDNY firefighters and EMS workers who arrived during the morning of 9/11 had the highest health burden across most physical and mental health outcomes. Continued follow-up of late emerging diseases such as cancers and autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases remains a priority area for future study.