"More than half (57%) of the 8,500 building survivors in the survey reported experiencing new or worsening respiratory symptoms, and almost all evacuees of damaged or collapsed buildings said they witnessed at least one event with potential for psychological trauma, such as observing people who were injured or killed (59%) or people falling or jumping from the WTC towers (61%). Most building survivors - nearly two in three (64%) - witnessed three or more potentially psychological traumatizing events on September 11, and 11% screened positive for probable serious psychological distress at the time of the interview.
Presence in the dust or debris cloud caused by the collapse of the World Trade Center was the strongest factor associated with physical and mental health effects, according to the analysis. More than 62% of building survivors reported being caught in the cloud, with sinus problems, nose irritation or postnatal irritation the most commonly reported new or worsening respiratory symptom (46% compared to 25% in those not in the dust cloud). Survivors caught in the dust cloud were twice as likely to report newly diagnosed asthma after September 11, 2001 than those who reported not being in the cloud.
Presence in the dust cloud also had the strongest association with self-reported new depression, anxiety or emotional problems. The reported level of probable serious psychological distress among survivors at the time of the interview was nearly twice that of all adult New Yorkers during that same time period. Nonrespiratory problems after September 11 were less prevalent than respiratory problems, with heartburn, indigestion or reflux (24%) and severe headaches (21%) the most commonly reported conditions. Injuries were commonly reported by building survivors (44%), but few reported injuries that may have required extensive treatment, such as burns or head injuries.
Analysis did not include rescue, recovery and clean-up workers because these groups had other types of exposures (e.g. extended periods of work at the WTC site removing debris) that need to be considered in a separate analysis. The Registry was designed to follow up with enrollees for 20 years to more fully understand the long-term impact of physical and mental health problems; findings will be made available to enrollees, other September 11-related health projects and the public..."
