Working in the Dust

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Working in The Dust

ALBANY, N.Y. – "Once you got down there, it was like nothing you'd ever seen,” said Peter Benedetto, a lieutenant with the West Albany Fire Department. “Everything was covered in dust, there was paper blowing everywhere, there was probably six inches of dust and debris in the street (Hunter 1)."

           Rescue workers who responded to the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center immediately after the attack, and in the months of cleanup afterwards suffered from a long list of physical symptoms years after exposure (Preznat 1). Upon the collapse of the two towers, dust particulate, combustible gases, fumes and other noxious materials were released into the area surrounding the collapse. “Trends in Respiratory Symptoms of Firefighters Exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster: 2001-2005,” used statistical analysis and to link common symptoms of 3,722 fire fighters who completed health physicals and filled out surveys to document their progression of symptoms over the next four years after the attack.  The article is documented with strong statistical analysis of all data collected.  The authors of this article use the statistical information collected to suggest the reform of recovery and clean up phases to protect our rescue workers from further health risk.  This article appeared in June 2009, and today the controversy over the toxicity of the dust from the towers is still a highly debated topic.  Some health professionals have reviewed the case and have discovered elevated cancer risks connected to rescue workers who participated in rescue operations at ground zero while others maintain that there is no link between the hazardous particulate in the air at ground zero and cancer (Smith 1).  Whether the dust caused cancer or not, the authors of “Trends in Respiratory Symptoms,” and their studies showing the health symptoms of rescue workers at the scene  show that symptoms and their severity were strongly correlated to the time on scene at ground zero.
           The scholarly journal indicates that in the first 6 months after 9/11 332 firefighters were given extensive medical leave due to symptoms contracted from their ongoing efforts at ground zero.  The list of common symptoms related to exposure to the 9/11 scene included dyspnea, wheeze, nasal congestion, acid reflux, asthma, rhinosinusitis and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (Preznat 1).  The firefighters were separated into three groups to distinguish their exposure levels.  “…group 1 (the most severely exposed) arrived on the morning of 9/11 and were present during the tower collapses; group 2 arrived during the afternoon of 9/11; group 3 arrived on day 2 (12 September 2001); and group 4 (least exposed) arrived on days 3–14.”  These groups were very useful in scene played a large role comparing the onset and severity of the for-mentioned symptoms to the rank of their exposure to the toxic dust (Preznat 2).    The article also went on to explain later that for each month worked on the site, there was a higher risk for symptoms.  Therefore the time of arrival and the time spent working at the scene could be used to predict health symptoms based on the reports of other firefighters with similar exposure.  Other groups created to help create patterns were smokers, former smokers and never smokers (Preznat 2).  These three groups were created to show correlations in symptoms within the groups and because of the heavy effect of smoking cigarettes on the lungs.  Each of these groups were asked if they had any previous respiratory or gastro – esophageal symptoms before their work at ground zero.  This study was created with the intention to collect as much information as it could and to see make as many comparisons as it could between groups.  The forethought that went into the design of this study allowed it produce a multitude of information.
           The authors of “Trends in Respiratory System,”  made use of all of the data collected and produced cumulative and per group analysis.  Initial predictions that group 1 would have received the most contamination from the toxic chemicals at ground zero were proven correct (Preznat 3).  The firefighters that were members of Group 1 showed more symptoms than the other three groups.  For all 4 groups the cough that accompanied year 1 of work at ground zero had diminished considerably by year 4.  Sore throat also diminished for the four groups, but not as much as the cough had. Dyspnea, rhinosinustitis, and GERD did not diminish over the four years (Preznat 5).  Those who spent at least 10 months at ground zero showed signs of new – onset asthma (Preznat 7).  Cigarette smoking increased the chance of GERD and wheezing at follow up by 50%, while there was not a noticeable difference between former smokers and never smokers (Preznat 7).  This information may be more prevalent now than it was at the time that the study conducted.
           Scientists quarrel over the possibility of toxic dust causing cancer in fire fighters present during the recovery efforts.  Some say that no direct link could be found between substances in the toxic dust and the new outburst of cancer.  Others report that the toxins present in the toxic dust have a very real chance of causing cancer.  While the reports are inconclusive, the authors of “Trends of Respiratory Symptoms,” show that the assault of the toxic dust on the first responders was very real.  The related symptoms in the large group of firefighters show that the dust did effect all those that were present and the extent of their involvement effected their risk for symptoms.  With this knowledge, the approach to rescue and recovery operations in the future must be reformed to help protect our first responders as they work to save others.  The symptoms all result from inhalation of toxic particulate in the dust surrounding ground zero.  Introduction of new Standard Operating Procedures mandating the use of respirators on these scenes would help alleviate the inhalation of this particulate.  Fire fighters need to be trained to prevent long term illness during salvage and overhaul where the air might not be safe.

Thomas Simon

Works Cited

• David J. Prezant, et al. "Trends in Respiratory Symptoms of Firefighters Exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster: 2001-2005." Environmental Health Perspectives 117.6 (2009): 975-980. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 26 Sept. 2011.
• Hunter, Matt YNN: Your News Now. Your News Now, 12 Sep. 2011. Web. 19 Sep. 2011 <http://mohawkvalley.ynn.com/content/top_stories/556797/local-firefighter-recounts-experience-of-9-11/>.
• Smith, Stephanie Firefighters Responding to 9/11 at Increased Cancer Risk. CNN, 2 Sep. 2011. Web. 18 Sep. 2011 <http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/09/01/911.firefighters.cancer/index.html>.