9/11 Response Plan Epidemiological Research

9/11 Response Plan Epidemiological Research

The data that will need to be collected includes the identity of any substances released from building materials, combustion, and plane wreckage that could adversely affect health through exposure in the air, entrance into the water supply, or simply on the ground. The area affected by the release of any such materials or substances must also be ascertained, as will the predicted health effects of these substances and the number of people affected. An initial estimate of the number of people exposed at the immediate site of the disaster will also be necessary to effectively combat immediate adverse health effects amongst survivors and emergency workers that responded to the location.

Purpose:

The above-described data collection will be necessary in order to determine an accurate expectation of adverse health effects and to prepare appropriate responses based on these expectations. Identification of potentially harmful substances will be required as the primary basis of determining likely impending outcomes and thus determining the types of resources that will be necessary. Estimates of the number of individuals likely to be affected will be needed to make estimates of the resource amounts that will be necessary.

Possible Collaborators:

There are many potential collaborators that will have to be involved in the data collection process in order to adequately and accurately measure the identified data areas. Officials with the Buildings Department and engineers/others that have an intimate knowledge of the building materials used in the World Trade Center towers will need to be contacted in order to make sure all potentially hazardous materials are identified, as will knowledgeable representatives from the airline operators and aircraft manufacturers. In terms of coming up with affected population estimated, World Trade Center personnel, officials involved with New York City census operations, the police, and fire department will all be useful in estimating the population of the buildings and the surrounding areas.

Type of Studies Needed: