New York City firefighters who rushed to the remnants of the World Trade Center after the 9/11 terror attacks are dying from health issues and that may include serious cardiovascular diseases, according to a report.
The report points out that the cardiovascular care is not currently covered by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, meaning 9/11 firefighters receive no compensation for cardiovascular diseases from the fund.
The cardiovascular risks that appear to be linked to Ground Zero exposure include heart attack, stroke, unstable angina, coronary artery surgery and angioplasty.
For years, firefighters have been monitored for cancer and other illnesses. But this study focused on cardiovascular disease and examined 9,796 firefighters. However, the study’s authors said they reviewed not only who worked at ground zero but also how long they worked there. And whether they developed any cardiovascular disease in the years that followed.
Moreover, the firefighters who arrived at World Trade Center site on the day of the attacks had a 44 percent higher risk. In contrast, compared with those who arrived the day after, as they are less vulnerable.
And those who worked at the site for six months or more had a 30 percent higher risk of a cardiovascular event, compared with those who worked at the site for less time.
Since 2002, more than 16,000 firefighters have been part of a comprehensive health screening and evaluation program by New York City and its medical institutions. Notably, they participated in rescue, recovery and cleanup operations at Ground Zero
