Firefighters who arrived immediately or spent more time at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks have a higher risk of developing heart disease, a new federally funded study reveals.
The analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Friday tracked the health of 9,796 firefighters since 9/11.
“Incident rates of cardiovascular disease were higher for firefighters with greater World Trade Center exposure. Both acute World Trade Center as well as repeated exposure during 6 or more months at the World Trade Center site appeared to be associated with long-term elevated cardiovascular disease risk,” the study, whose authors include FDNY Medical Director David Prezant, said.
“These findings suggest the continued need for long-term monitoring of the health of survivors of disasters,” the report.
The findings come on the eve of the 18th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, which takes place on Wednesday.
The research provides evidence that advocates could use to argue that heart-related illness and disease should be added to the list of health problems covered for treatment under the Sept. 11 Victims Compensation Fund.
President Trump approved a law in July making the fund permanent.
“It shouldn’t come as any surprise. We have so many people who’ve have heart attacks or bypass surgery,” said Michael Barasch, whose Barasch McGarry law firm represents thousands of sick people who worked, resided or went to school near the World Trade Center site.
The authors cited several limitations with the study, including that it can’t prove that exposure to dust or other contaminants.
They also caution “it is possible that the long-term risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease) observed in these firefighters can be attributed to their stressful occupation, which also re-exposed them to smoke and dust in subsequent fires.
But the strength of the study is that the FDNY rigorously examines the respiratory health of firefighters on an annual basis and the medical records show a clear decline in respiratory function of the 9/11 cohort.
The Post has reported numerous health cases advocates have linked to exposure to 9/11 toxins, including men suffering from breast cancer and others afflicted with brain cancer.
Other researchers in the study aside from those from the New York City Fire Department include Montefiore hospital, the Albert Einstein School of Medicine and the NYU School of Medicine.