# Cardiovascular Disease among WTC-exposed Rescue/Recovery Workers

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $349,732

## Abstract

Project Summary
Previous studies in World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed rescue/recovery workers have shown links between
WTC dust cloud exposure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. Exposure to ambient particulate
matter has been associated with CVD in other occupational cohorts as well. Among WTC rescue/recovery
workers, those considered to have high-level WTC dust exposure, such as those who arrived at the WTC site
early in the rescue/recovery effort on 9/11/2001 (9/11), have been shown to have an increased risk of CVD
compared with workers with lower exposure. However, findings have been inconsistent, with some studies only
finding associations within WTC-exposed sub-populations. Inconsistent results from studies of WTC exposure
and CVD-related outcomes could be due to the use of varying definitions of CVD and high-level WTC
exposure. Now, we propose to evaluate the association between WTC exposure and CVD outcomes within a
large cohort of WTC rescue/recovery workers, using a consistent exposure definition and medical record data
from a centralized New York State database. The goal of this proposal is to estimate the overall incidence of
CVD events, defined by inpatient and outpatient New York State healthcare facility visits, in the Combined
WTC Rescue/Recovery Cohort; in particular, we aim to compare CVD incidence by WTC exposure level and
by occupation at the WTC site, and evaluate whether the CVD incidence changes over time. If an exposure-
response relationship is found, results from this proposal would provide the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) WTC Health Program with additional evidence to consider in their deliberations as
to whether CVD should be added to the list of WTC-covered conditions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10994800
- **Project number:** 1U01OH012771-01
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Rachel Zeig-Owens
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $349,732
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10994800

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10994800, Cardiovascular Disease among WTC-exposed Rescue/Recovery Workers (1U01OH012771-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10994800. Licensed CC0.

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