New 9/11 Research Coordinating Center discussed in NIOSH Science Bulletin

A recently published article in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine discusses the importance of increasing our understanding of the long-term health and educational impacts of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (9/11) among people who were exposed during childhood and young adulthood.

In the article, titled, “Health Impacts of the World Trade Center Disaster—A Call to Study Those Exposed at a Young Age ,” authors discuss how experiencing 9/11 during childhood and young adulthood may result in different health effects compared with experiencing them during adulthood. Children and young adults go through periods of rapid growth and development during which they can be more susceptible to adverse health effects from environmental exposures. Such exposures occur more commonly in children due to several factors including their physiology and age-appropriate behaviors such as crawling.

Overcoming the unique challenges of studying those who were exposed to 9/11 more than 25 years ago requires effective organization, broad scientific expertise, and robust community engagement. The authors describe one potential framework for fulfilling Congress’ mandate while honoring both the preferences of the community and scientific consultants: a central coordinating center. The WTC Health Program recently signaled its intent to establish such a center through a cooperative agreement. For more information read the NIOSH Science Bulletin .