Latest Findings
In August 2009, we released findings based on Registry data collected in 2006 and 2007.
Among the 50,000 study participants, probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and new asthma were the most commonly reported conditions 5 to 6 years after 9/11. People caught in the dust cloud on 9/11 had the highest risk for developing these conditions. The findings – published in the Journal of the American Medical Association – provide the most comprehensive look at the current health of people directly exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- 19% reported new post-traumatic stress symptoms 5 to 6 years later, an increase from 14% in 2003 and 2004.
- More than half (52%) who reported post-traumatic stress symptoms said they did not receive treatment in the previous year.
- The rate of PTSD was highest among those passing by on 9/11 (23%), including commuters and tourists.
Asthma
- 10% reported they had developed new asthma, with most diagnosed in the first 16 months after 9/11. The number reporting new onset of asthma symptoms was not elevated 5 to 6 years after 9/11. The rate of new asthma was highest (12%) among rescue and recovery workers who worked on the debris pile on 9/11.
- The findings also suggest that people who found a heavy layer of dust when they returned to their homes or offices were at a higher risk for developing new asthma.
Source
Past Findings
The following findings are based on Registry data collected in 2003 and 2004.
Estimated Number Exposed
More than 410,000 people were directly exposed to the WTC disaster, including:
- More than 91,000 rescue and recovery workers and volunteers
- More than 57,000 residents south of Canal Street
- About 15,000 children and staff in schools (pre K-12) south of Canal Street
- More than 360,000 building occupants, residents and people passing by
Note: About 26% fell into more than 1 group, with the greatest overlap among those in lower Manhattan on September 11 who were also a rescue and recovery worker or lived in the area or both.
Exposures
Among the 71,437 people enrolled in the WTC Health Registry:
- 70% reported witnessing traumatizing events on 9/11, such as seeing people running away from the dust cloud (53%) or collapsing buildings (47%), seeing people injured or killed (33%) or 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
- 13% suffered an injury
- 61% of adult residents reported they evacuated their homes on or after 9/11, with 9% returning as early as 2 days later
- 83% of building occupants reported they evacuated their workplaces on 9/11
Sources
