A new study led by researchers at the Stony Brook World Trade Center (WTC) Health and Wellness Program has found a significant link between toxic exposures at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks and an increased incidence of lung cancer among first responders. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed health data from more than 12,000 responders monitored at the Stony Brook WTC Program. The study period covered July 2012 through the end of 2023, with participants having an average age of 49.3 years.
The findings indicate that more than a decade after the events of September 11, 2001, responders who experienced higher levels of exposure to dust and chemicals at Ground Zero had nearly three times the rate of lung cancer compared to those with minimal exposure.
“We discovered that responders with more severe exposures to WTC dust had up to 2.9 times greater risk of developing lung cancer compared to minimally exposed responders working on the pile who reported low dust exposure or used personal protective equipment (PPE),” said Sean Clouston, lead author and director of research for the Program in Public Health at Stony Brook University.
Clouston, an epidemiologist and professor in the Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine at Stony Brook’s Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM), noted that primary exposures included dust, fumes from burning materials, and sewage odors. Over the course of the study period, 118 responders developed lung cancer. Those with severe exposures who did not consistently use PPE showed the highest rates of incidence even after adjusting for factors such as demographics and smoking history.
According to co-author Paolo Boffetta, MD, associate director for population sciences in the Stony Brook Cancer Center and professor in RSOM’s Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine: “Previous studies did not identify any such link between lung cancer and WTC responders because of the short latency of exposures and low smoking rates in WTC responder populations.”
The authors believe this is the first published research establishing a connection between specific types or severity levels of WTC exposure and lung cancer incidence among affected populations.
Researchers plan further investigation into which types or severities of WTC exposures are most relevant to lung cancer risk. They aim to validate reported exposures among responders and determine whether detected cancers share similar characteristics.
To help reduce future cases among this group, investigators recommend tobacco control efforts as well as participation in regular lung cancer screenings for early detection or prevention.
Funding for this study was provided in part by grants from both the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control.
