The World Trade Center Exposome and Health Effects in 9/11 Rescue and Recovery Workers

Overview

Journal Res Sq

Date 2024 Jan 3

PMID 38168216

Authors

Elza Rechtman

Michelle Rodriguez

Elena Colicino

Christopher Hahn

Esmeralda Navarro

Azzurra Invernizzi

Christopher Dasaro

Susan Teitelbaum

Andrew Todd

Megan Horton

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In the aftermath of the World Trade Center (WTC) attack, rescue and recovery workers faced hazardous conditions and toxic agents. Prior research linked these exposures to adverse health effects, but mainly examined individual factors, overlooking complex mixture effects. This study applies an exposomic approach encompassing the totality of responders' experience, defined as the WTC exposome. We analyzed data from 34,096 members of the WTC Health Program General Responder, including mental and physical health, occupational history, traumatic and environmental exposures using generalized weighted quantile sum regression. We find a significant association between the exposure mixture index all investigated health outcomes. Factors identified as risk factors include working in an enclosed heavily contaminated area, construction occupation, and exposure to blood and body fluids. Conversely, full-time employment emerged as a protective factor. This exposomics study emphasizes the importance of considering combined exposures. In an era marked by more frequent and severe natural disasters due to the evolving climate crisis, the exposomic framework holds promise as a valuable tool for disaster preparedness.

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