Airways Dysfunction Following WTC Dust Exposure
Airways Dysfunction Following WTC Dust Exposure
In the weeks following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many patients presented
 to their physicians with complaints related to exposure to the debris. These included nose
 and throat complaints (drip, congestion, sore throat), increased GE reflux (heartburn,
 regurgitation, retrosternal chest burning) and respiratory symptoms (worsening cough,
 wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, sleep disturbance). In addition, there was a
 disproportionate rate of self-reported worsening asthma symptoms in patients living in Lower
 New York 5-9 weeks after the attack; those with exposure to the dust cloud fared worse. The
 functional abnormalities of firefighters with exposures to dust at the WTC site has been
 recently described. However, the effects of WTC dust exposure on pulmonary function in
 residents and workers near the WTC site remain unclear. This study will retrospectively
 review the charts of all patients referred to the pulmonary function laboratory for
 evaluation of symptoms following exposure to WTC dust. The main objectives for this study
 will be to characterize the functional abnormalities in these subjects.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  age 18-80

 -  referral for pulmonary function evaluation of respiratory symptoms following exposure
 to WTC dust

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  inability to perform testing