Long-term studies to monitor the health effects of the World Trade Center attacks on New Yorkers are getting under way.
A 20-year study conducted by the city Department of Health and the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will begin in September or soon after to identify patterns of physical and psychological illness attributable to 9/11.
As many as 200,000 volunteers who were in the area on 9/11 will participate in the World Trade Center Health Registry.
Initially interviewed by phone about their health history, they will be contacted periodically and asked about changes. The study’s initial stages have been funded with $20 million in federal grants.
The federal government has also allocated $25 million to track the health of firefighters exposed to dust and debris. Set to start early next year, the study will last 10 years.
“Things we’ll be working on are pulmonary function tests, blood work, electrocardiograms and chest X-rays,” said Dr. Kerry Kelly, chief medical officer with the FDNY.
In addition, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has yet to decide how to spend $65 million marked for long-term health tracking.