Health Impact Information from 9/11 WTC Collapse

The long term impact on the millions of Americans that were affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks range significantly from chronic mental problems to persistent physical conditions. The reason for the vast array of problems is mainly due to the different exposures people had from the devastation and loss sustained by the collapse of the World Trade Center.

Since 9/11 there has been many health studies done on the impact that the collapse of the World Trade Center has made.

The WTC Health Bulletin offers on going information for New Yorkers on how to receive medical treatment and help for 9/11 problems. The WTC Centers of Excellence offers free treatment services for anyone with 9/11 related problems.

Studies on the impact of 9/11 suggest that PTSD symptoms have become the most common health related problem from the collapse of the WTC. Approximately one out of every five people in the WTC Health Registry has symptoms of PTSD years after the 9/11 collapse.

The PTSD symptoms arose from witnessing the devastation, knowing someone who was injured or killed, having lack of social support, and being exposed to the massive dust cloud or injured by the collapse in some fashion.

Recovery and rescue people who started work on or after the collapse have also been likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder.

People who experienced trauma before or after 9/11, such as losing a job after the attacks, were at increased risk for developing PTSD.

Other conditions included respiratory, sinus, asthma or lung problems that people developed from having been exposed to the massive dust cloud, working at the site, etc.

Many people involved in some way with the WTC collapse have also had an increase of gastroesophageal problems including acid reflux, heartburn, and GERD. As well as mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, etc.

There has also been recent documentation on increased levels of an inflammatory lung disease called sarcoidosis among firefighters. The studies are also studying sarcoidosis levels in other people who were exposed to the collapse.

The studies have also found that many people suffer from both mental and physical conditions relating from the WTC collapse.

Unfortunately not many studies have looked at the health impact that the WTC collapse has had on adolescents and children and many researchers are trying to study the connections of exposure and long-term diseases, as well as mortality rates in the people that were affected by the collapse of the WTC. For more information about the WTC effects and documentation on new findings a person should view the WTC Health Registry's website and the WTC Centers of Excellence hyperlink. If you were affected by the WTC collapse and are having any medical or health related problems you should contact someone at either of these organizations so they can help you.

The 9/11 attacks also made a huge impact on our security measures in America, as well as the development and massive homeland security measures that are now in place. Americans were pretty much blind-sided by this attack and the information that we now know has significantly changed our security measures in many ways. Basically Americans have changed how they live because of the WTC collapse and the present day terrorism threat.

References for this article include:

www.nyc.gov/html/doh/wtc/html/treatment/centers.shtml
www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/terrorism/july-dec08/911discussion_09-11.html
www.npr.org/911hearings/security_measures.html