Abstract

The Queens Ground Zero Worker Health Watch proposes a longitudinal assessment of the health of Ground Zero workers that is designed: a) to characterize changes in the health status and the development of new health conditions among Ground Zero and related workers, b) to provide Ground Zero workers with current state of the art knowledge, individually and in aggregate, about the health effects of working at Ground Zero, and c) to ensure appropriate referral and follow-up for health conditions that are detected in the screening program. The Queens Ground Zero Worker Health Watch proposes to serve as a Clinical Center for a minimum of 700 workers within the overall World Trade Center (WTC) Responder Health Consortium. The Clinical Center is conveniently located for the approximately 23percent of participants in the baseline screening program that live in Queens and immediately adjacent areas. The credibility and expertise of the Clinical Center proposed by Queens College is demonstrated by the baseline examination of 600 Ground Zero workers by Queens College as part of the WTC Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening program (2003-present);the medical screening of 415 day laborers/building clean-up workers near Ground Zero by Queens College in early 2002;and the national medical screening of 9,200 Department of Energy workers by Queens College in cooperation with PACE International Union between 1999 and 2004. Proposed mechanisms to minimize participant attrition and to maintain program loyalty over time will include a program newsletter, group educational sessions, and a WTC Worker Advocacy Group. In addition, Queens College has a demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with other medical institutions, unions, the NYC Health Department, and other agencies that have been essential to the documentation of health effects of Ground Zero workers. Queens College, thus, anticipates that it will serve as a valuable clinical, scientific, and intellectual resource to Ground Zero workers and to the World Trade Center Responder Health Consortium.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Type
Cooperative Clinical Research--Cooperative Agreements (U10)
Project #
3U10OH008275-05S2
Application #
8090630
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZOH1-SPC (04))
Program Officer
Fleming, Roy M
Project Start
2004-06-01
Project End
2011-06-30
Budget Start
2008-06-01
Budget End
2011-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$2,672,346
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Queens College
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
619346146
City
Flushing
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11367

  Publications

Dasaro, Christopher R; Holden, William L; Berman, Karen D et al. (2017) Cohort Profile: World Trade Center Health Program General Responder Cohort. Int J Epidemiol 46:e9
Stein, Cheryl R; Wallenstein, Sylvan; Shapiro, Moshe et al. (2016) Mortality among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers, 2002-2011. Am J Ind Med 59:87-95
Kotov, Roman; Bromet, Evelyn J; Schechter, Clyde et al. (2015) Posttraumatic stress disorder and the risk of respiratory problems in World Trade Center responders: longitudinal test of a pathway. Psychosom Med 77:438-48
Kim, Hyun; Herbert, Robin; Landrigan, Philip et al. (2012) Increased rates of asthma among World Trade Center disaster responders. Am J Ind Med 55:44-53
Luft, B J; Schechter, C; Kotov, R et al. (2012) Exposure, probable PTSD and lower respiratory illness among World Trade Center rescue, recovery and clean-up workers. Psychol Med 42:1069-79
Woskie, Susan R; Kim, Hyun; Freund, Alice et al. (2011) World Trade Center disaster: assessment of responder occupations, work locations, and job tasks. Am J Ind Med 54:681-95
Skloot, Gwen S; Schechter, Clyde B; Herbert, Robin et al. (2009) Longitudinal assessment of spirometry in the World Trade Center medical monitoring program. Chest 135:492-498
Bills, Corey B; Dodson, Nancy; Stellman, Jeanne M et al. (2009) Stories behind the symptoms: a qualitative analysis of the narratives of 9/11 rescue and recovery workers. Psychiatr Q 80:173-89
Moline, Jacqueline M; Herbert, Robin; Crowley, Laura et al. (2009) Multiple myeloma in World Trade Center responders: a case series. J Occup Environ Med 51:896-902
Stellman, Jeanne Mager; Smith, Rebecca P; Katz, Craig L et al. (2008) Enduring mental health morbidity and social function impairment in world trade center rescue, recovery, and cleanup workers: the psychological dimension of an environmental health disaster. Environ Health Perspect 116:1248-53