Settlement Doesn’t 'Settle' Risks, Concerns, Need for Continued Study of Lung Diseases Attributed to 9/11 Exposures, Says Patient Groups

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following joint statement was issued today by the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation:

Though the news last week was good news for the  10,000 brave first responders to the 9/11 crisis, it by no means signals an end to the need for continued study of lung diseases attributed to the devastating World Trade Center (WTC) disaster – the settlement is really just the tip of the iceberg.  The aftermath of 9/11 will remain a significant public health problem for years to come.  There will undoubtedly be an ongoing need to support the growing number of responders who will suffer, and possibly have their lives cut short, as a result of these unimaginable environmental exposures.  

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation have counseled tens of thousands of patients fighting pulmonary fibrosis over the past decade, including many who were 9/11 responders.  We have grieved the loss of the thousands of patients we've counseled over the years.

We are collectively concerned that a recent New York Times article ("Ground Zero Workers Reach Deal Over Claims", Mireya Navarro, March 11, 2010) communicated a sense of closure on this issue, and that the threat of post-9/11 illnesses will now be viewed with complacency.  In fact, we need to reinvigorate our dedication to helping these heroes.

According to the 2009 Annual Report on 9/11 Health by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office(1), the total number of WTC responders and workers screened by the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and the Mount Sinai Consortium in 2009 was 42,410, far more than the 10,000 who are included in this settlement.  Of this number, 71 percent of patients received treatment for upper respiratory conditions, and 46 percent of patients received for lower respiratory conditions.  The Bloomberg report has already highlighted that Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) a lethal lung disease already connected to WTC responders will undoubtedly continue to be a prevalent diagnosis for years to come.  PF leads to irreversible scarring of the lungs, and it is ultimately fatal - the median survival rate is just three years.  

WTC responders experienced a variety of potentially lethal exposures - pulverized building materials, jet fuel, and other lethal chemical contaminants – many of which were arguably rampant at the WTC site for months.   As a result, there is a critical need for continued longitudinal studies, such as those currently underway at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, to determine the impact of WTC exposures on responders, to better understand the development and progression of their disease(s), and ultimately to  and to find new treatments to help them survive.  

The Bloomberg report recommended, and we strongly support, the call for increased financial support for medical centers like the Mount Sinai Consortium.  Ongoing research is critical to improve our understanding of lung diseases like PF. Improved knowledge about WTC-related health impacts, including longitudinal studies to identify how 9/11 environmental exposures cause respiratory illness, studies to identify biologic indicators of specific 9/11 exposures, and other research as needed to identify risk factors for long-term illness due to WTC exposure, are desperately needed for years to come.  

Along with research, there comes a need for improved public education and awareness of this issue, and the Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation are committed to continuing to be a source of compassionate support for pulmonary fibrosis patients and their loved ones, including these heroic first responders and WTC workers.  

Sincerely,

Dan Rose, MD

President

Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

Mishka Michon

Chief Executive Officer, Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis

Mark A. Shreve

Founder, Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis &

Senior Advisor, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

NOTES:

(1) September 24, 2009 MAYOR BLOOMBERG RELEASES SECOND ANNUAL REPORT ON 9/11 HEALTH World Trade Center Medical Working Group Reviews Scientific Research on 9/11 Health Report; Contains First Ever WTC Patient Population Count;, a review of the latest medical research on potential health impacts of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

SOURCE Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis; Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation