"9-11 First Responders May Face Greater Heart Risks" - Dr. Mary Ann McLaughlin
First responders who were exposed to the dust cloud during and immediately following the New York City terror attacks on September 11, 2001, may be at increased risk for heart disease, experts warn. Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine examined the integrity of the blood vessel walls in 31 Ground Zero workers. The 19 men and women who were there during the first two days showed greater damage to their blood vessel walls than their counterparts who arrived later. "The workers who inhaled particulate matter at Ground Zero, especially those within the initial 'cloud,' received a much higher 'dose' of particulate matter, compared with inhaling air pollution," said study author Dr. Mary Ann McLaughlin, an associate professor of cardiology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Learn More