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Cancer and Mortality Publications

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2026

  • Effect of World Trade Center Health Program on mortality among 9/11 responders.
    • A study looked at whether joining the World Trade Center Health Program was linked to longer lives among 9/11 responders. Researchers followed more than 28,000 responders through 2020. Those in the program had a lower risk of death from any cause and from smoking-related causes than those who were not members. The difference was mainly seen in men. The study suggests that health checks and treatment after a disaster may help lower the risk of death.
    • Parvin, A., Kehm, R. D., Qiao, B., Cone, J. E., Farfel, M. R., Zeig-Owens, R., Goldfarb, D. G., Shapiro, M. Z., Todd, A. C., Insaf, T., Hall, C. B., Boffetta, P., & Li, J. (2026). Effect of World Trade Center Health Program on mortality among 9/11 responders. Annals of Epidemiology, 115, 8–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2026.01.014

2025

  • Mortality in a cohort of WTC-exposed law-enforcement officers compared to non-WTC law-enforcement officers
    • A study comparing World Trade Center (WTC) rescue workers to Buffalo police officers found that WTC-exposed law enforcement officers had lower overall and cause-specific death rates. This may be due to better healthcare access through the WTC Health Program rather than just the "healthy worker effect." The findings highlight how healthcare access can improve long-term survival for disaster-exposed workers.
    • Singh, A., Khalifeh, M., Violanti, J., Zeig-Owens, R., Todd, A. C., Shapiro, M. Z., Carwile, M. E., Dasaro, C. R., Li, J., Yung, J., Farfel, M. R., Brackbill, R. M., Cone, J. E., Qiao, B., Schymura, M. J., Prezant, D. J., Hall, C. B., & Boffetta, P. (2025). Mortality in a cohort of WTC-exposed law-enforcement officers compared to non-WTC law-enforcement officers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 98(2), 215–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02121-2
  • Importance of reference group selection in the evaluation of cancer incidence
    • prostate and thyroid cancers but lower rates of colon and lung cancers compared to local and national populations. The choice of reference population affected how cancer rates and trends were measured, especially for prostate cancer. Researchers stress the importance of selecting the right comparison group to avoid bias and better understand cancer risks in exposed individuals.
    • Mueller, A. K., Vaeth, B., Todd, A. C., Dasaro, C. R., Li, J., Qiao, B., Boffetta, P., Prezant, D. J., Hall, C. B., Goldfarb, D. G., & Zeig-Owens, R. (2025). Importance of reference group selection in the evaluation of cancer incidence. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 270. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82555-9

2024

  • Racial and ethnic disparities in mortality among World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees with post-9/11 cancer
    • A study of 4,341 people exposed to the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster found that Black and Hispanic cancer patients had higher death rates than White patients. Black enrollees were more likely to die from non-cancer causes, while Hispanic enrollees had higher cancer-related death rates.
    • Kehm, R. D., Li, J., & Cone, J. E. (2024). Racial and ethnic disparities in mortality among World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees with post‐9/11 cancer. Cancer Medicine, 13(16), e70071. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70071
  • Colorectal cancer screening: results from the World Trade Center Health Registry cohort
    • A study of 22,061 people exposed to the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster found that only 23% were screened for colorectal cancer. Screening rates were higher among non-Hispanic Black individuals, men, those with higher incomes, strong social support, or access to WTC Health Program services. The study highlights the need for continued efforts to improve health care for the WTC-exposed population.
    • Thompson, H. M., Yung, J., Li, J., & Cone, J. (2024). Colorectal cancer screening: Results from the World Trade Center Health Registry cohort. Cancer Causes & Control, 35(10), 1355–1365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-024-01895-z

2023

  • Cancer Incidence in World Trade Center Rescue and Recovery Workers by Race and Ethnicity
    • A WTC Health Registry study found that compared to Whites, Black rescue and recovery workers had a higher chance of developing prostate cancer and multiple myeloma. They had a lower chance of developing thyroid and colorectal cancer. Hispanic rescue and recovery workers had a higher chance of developing liver cancer. White rescue and recovery workers had a much higher incidence of prostate cancer and thyroid cancer. Black rescue and recovery workers had significantly higher incidence of prostate cancer.
    • Khalifeh, M., Goldfarb, D. G., Zeig‐Owens, R., Todd, A. C., Shapiro, M. Z., Carwile, M., Dasaro, C. R., Li, J., Yung, J., Farfel, M. R., Brackbill, R. M., Cone, J. E., Qiao, B., Schymura, M. J., Prezant, D. J., Hall, C., & Boffetta, P. (2023). Cancer incidence in World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers by race and ethnicity. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 66(12), 1048–1055. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23539

2022

  • A 15-year follow-up study of mortality in a pooled cohort of World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers.
    • We reviewed the death rate over 15 years among World Trade Center (WTC) rescue/recovery workers. They were from the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), the World Trade Center (WTC) general responder cohort, and the WTC Health Registry. From 2002-2016, overall deaths were lower in workers compared with the U.S. and New York State populations. There are other groups of non-FDNY workers with greater WTC exposure, compared to those less exposed, at increased risk of death. This study highlights the need for continued studying, monitoring and treatment.
    • Li, J., Hall, C. B., Yung, J., Kehm, R. D., Zeig-Owens, R., Singh, A., Cone, J. E., Brackbill, R. M., Farfel, M. R., Qiao, B., Schymura, M. J., Shapiro, M. Z., Dasaro, C. R., Todd, A. C., Prezant, D. J., & Boffetta, P. (2023). A 15-year follow-up study of mortality in a pooled cohort of World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers. Environmental Research, 219, 115116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.115116
  • COVID-19-Specific Mortality among World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees Who Resided in New York City
    • This study looked at the increase in deaths and COVID-19 related deaths among the New York City residents exposed to the 9/11 disaster. We found that death increased 3-fold in this 9/11-exposed population during year 2020. We also found non-Hispanic Black and having at least one chronic condition increased the chance of dying from COVID-19 infection. This study highlights the importance of reducing transmission risk in communities of color.
    • Yung, J., Li, J., Kehm, R. D., Cone, J. E., Parton, H., Huynh, M., & Farfel, M. R. (2022). COVID-19-Specific Mortality among World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees Who Resided in New York City. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(21), 14348. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114348
  • Mortality after the 9/11 terrorist attacks among world trade center health registry enrollees with cancer
    • This study found that the risk of dying of a post-9/11 cancer was increased when the enrollee also had PTSD. In rescue/recovery workers, the overall risk of dying from a non-cancer related disease was increased if they had PTSD. The risk was also increased if they witnessed three or more traumatic events on 9/11. We did not see a link between 9/11-related exposure and cancer deaths among WTCHR enrollees.
    • Kehm, R. D., Li, J., Takemoto, E., Yung, J., Qiao, B., Farfel, M. R., & Cone, J. E. (2023). Mortality after the 9/11 terrorist attacks among world trade center health registry enrollees with cancer. Cancer Medicine, 12(2), 1829–1840. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.4992
  • Cancer risk among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers : A review
    • This review looks at the study results that have been conducted among WTC-RRWs over the last twenty years after 9/11. And the link between exposure at the World Trade Center site and the evidence of an increased risk for certain types of cancers.
    • Boffetta, P., Hall, C. B., Todd, A. C., Goldfarb, D. G., Schymura, M. J., Li, J., Cone, J. E., & Zeig‐Owens, R. (2022). Cancer risk among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers: A review. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 72(4), 308–314. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21723

2021

  • Change in 9/11-related post-traumatic stress symptoms following cancer diagnosis
    • Previous studies reported that people with 9/11-related PTSD who experienced another stressful event were more likely to re-develop 9/11-related PTSD symptoms. Being told you have cancer can be a very stressful event and can bring back a person’s PTSD symptoms. We looked at the change of 9/11-related PTSD symptoms after a cancer diagnosis in people who were exposed to the WTC disaster. We found that 9/11-related PTSD symptoms in men were slightly increasing before the cancer diagnosis and reversed after the diagnosis. No trend was noticed in the women. The reduction in the men was seen mostly in the rescue/recovery workers with an advanced state of the disease. Further research is needed to explain the reasons behind this change.
    • Yung, J., Takemoto, E., Cone, J., & Li, J. (2022). Change in 9/11‐related post‐traumatic stress symptoms following cancer diagnosis. Psycho-Oncology, 31(5), 717–724. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5855
  • Temporal Aspects of the Association between Exposure to the World Trade Center Disaster and Risk of Cutaneous Melanoma
    • This study looked at the cases of cutaneous melanoma in WTC rescue and recovery workers (RRW) between 2002 and 2015. Overall, the risk of cutaneous melanoma was higher among RRW compared to the New York state population. Also, those who worked at the disaster site in the first week after 9/11, and those who worked on the debris pile, had an increased risk. This study included RRW from three 9/11 cohorts (WTC Health Registry, FDNY, and Mount Sinai). Findings show the need for ongoing cancer monitoring of workers.
    • Boffetta, P., Goldfarb, D. G., Zeig-Owens, R., Kristjansson, D., Li, J., Brackbill, R. M., Farfel, M. R., Cone, J. E., Yung, J., Kahn, A. R., Qiao, B., Schymura, M. J., Webber, M. P., Prezant, D. J., Dasaro, C. R., Todd, A. C., & Hall, C. B. (2022). Temporal Aspects of the Association between Exposure to the World Trade Center Disaster and Risk of Cutaneous Melanoma. JID Innovations, 2(1), 100063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjidi.2021.100063
  • Temporal Association of Prostate Cancer Incidence with World Trade Center Rescue/Recovery Work
    • This study looked at prostate cancer during 2002-2015 (check) in WTC-exposed rescue and recovery workers (RRW) compared to the New York State population. We found a 24% increase in cancer risk beginning at about 5 years after exposure. Those who arrived at the site during the first two days after 9/11 had higher risk than those who arrived later. This study included RRW from three 9/11 cohorts (WTC Health Registry, FDNY, and Mount Sinai). The findings help understand the time between environmental exposure and the risk of developing cancer.
    • Goldfarb, D. G., Zeig-Owens, R., Kristjansson, D., Li, J., Brackbill, R. M., Farfel, M. R., Cone, J. E., Yung, J., Kahn, A. R., Qiao, B., Schymura, M. J., Webber, M. P., Dasaro, C. R., Shapiro, M., Todd, A. C., Prezant, D. J., Boffetta, P., & Hall, C. B. (2021). Temporal association of prostate cancer incidence with World Trade Center rescue/recovery work. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 78(10), 699–706. https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2021-107405
  • Cancer Incidence in World Trade Center Rescue and Recovery Workers: 14 Years of Follow-Up
    • This paper reviewed recent studies of cancer risk among WTC responders and rescue and recovery (RRW) workers. It focused on studies based on combining information from three WTC-exposed responder cohorts. RRW were exposed to WTC dust and debris that contained many known and suspected cancer-causing elements. The review showed that WTC exposure was related to an increased risk of skin melanoma and tonsil cancer among RRW. It also noted better cancer survival among those enrolled in a WTC- medical monitoring and treatment program (WTC-MMTP) compared to those not enrolled. Cancer survival among those enrolled in a WTC-MMTP was also better than that of the New York State general population. Routine check-ups of RRW in a MMTP also led to an increase in detection of thyroid cancer.
    • Li, J., Yung, J., Qiao, B., Takemoto, E., Goldfarb, D. G., Zeig-Owens, R., Cone, J. E., Brackbill, R. M., Farfel, M. R., Kahn, A. R., Schymura, M. J., Shapiro, M. Z., Dasaro, C. R., Todd, A. C., Kristjansson, D., Prezant, D. J., Boffetta, P., & Hall, C. B. (2022). Cancer Incidence in World Trade Center Rescue and Recovery Workers: 14 Years of Follow-Up. JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 114(2), 210–219. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djab165
  • Joint Cancer Project: Cancer Survival among World Trade Center Rescue and Recovery Workers: A Collaborative Cohort Study

    • This paper reports on cancer survival among WTC rescue and recovery workers. We studied workers from three WTC-exposed responder groups. Those diagnosed with cancer between 2005 and 2015 were included. We found that workers enrolled in a World Trade Center medical monitoring and treatment program (WTC-MMTP) had a 28% lower cancer death rate. They also had a 36% lower all-cause death rate, compared to NYS general population. There was no difference in survival between those not enrolled in a WTC-MMTP and the NYS general population. Enrollment in a WTC-MMTP that includes screening and no out-of-pocket‐cost treatment may help improve survival among WTC cancer patients.

    • Goldfarb, D. G., Zeig‐Owens, R., Kristjansson, D., Li, J., Brackbill, R. M., Farfel, M. R., Cone, J. E., Kahn, A. R., Qiao, B., Schymura, M. J., Webber, M. P., Dasaro, C. R., Lucchini, R. G., Todd, A. C., Prezant, D. J., Hall, C. B., & Boffetta, P. (2021). Cancer survival among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers: A collaborative cohort study. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 64(10), 815–826. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23278
  • Impact of healthcare services on thyroid cancer incidence among world trade center exposed rescue and recovery workers

    • This paper reports on thyroid cancer in WTC rescue and recovery workers (RRW). It looked at RRW from three WTC-exposed cohorts through 2015. Incidence of thyroid cancer in those enrolled in a WTC-medical monitoring and treatment program (WTC-MMTP) was more than double that of the New York State population. There was no difference in thyroid cancer incidence between those not enrolled in a WTC-MMTP and the NYS population. Being in a WTC-MMTP that includes screening may increase the identification of thyroid cancer.

    • Goldfarb, D. G., Colbeth, H. L., Skerker, M., Webber, M. P., Prezant, D. J., Dasaro, C. R., Todd, A. C., Kristjansson, D., Li, J., Brackbill, R. M., Farfel, M. R., Cone, J. E., Yung, J., Kahn, A. R., Qiao, B., Schymura, M. J., Boffetta, P., Hall, C. B., & Zeig‐Owens, R. (2021). Impact of healthcare services on thyroid cancer incidence among World Trade Center‐exposed rescue and recovery workers. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 64(10), 861–872. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23277
  • Confirming mortality in a longitudinal exposure cohort: optimizing National Death Index search result processing
    • As part of its work, the WTC Health Registry tracks deaths among enrollees. This study compared several methods for processing the results of Registry matches to the National Death Index (NDI) to confirm deaths among enrollees. These included methods from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR); and criteria set by NDI. We found that the method from the NPCR reduced the number of false-matches and made the manual review process easier. The Registry has now adopted the NPCR method for processing NDI matches.
    • Goldfarb, D. G., Colbeth, H. L., Skerker, M., Webber, M. P., Prezant, D. J., Dasaro, C. R., Todd, A. C., Kristjansson, D., Li, J., Brackbill, R. M., Farfel, M. R., Cone, J. E., Yung, J., Kahn, A. R., Qiao, B., Schymura, M. J., Boffetta, P., Hall, C. B., & Zeig‐Owens, R. (2021). Impact of healthcare services on thyroid cancer incidence among World Trade Center‐exposed rescue and recovery workers. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 64(10), 861–872. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23277
      Giesinger, I., Li, J., Takemoto, E., Brackbill, R. M., Cone, J. E., Qiao, B., & Farfel, M. R. (2021). Confirming mortality in a longitudinal exposure cohort: Optimizing National Death Index search result processing. Annals of Epidemiology, 56, 40–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2020.10.010
  • Combining Three Cohorts of WTC Rescue/Recovery Workers for Assessing Cancer Incidence and Mortality

    • This paper is the result of working with three responder cohorts, including the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), the World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR), and the General Responder Cohort (GRC) to report the associations between WTC-exposures and rare cancers. Combining the three cohorts enabled researchers to collect data from a larger study group. Records from the FDNY, WTCHR, and GRC were combined resulting in 69,102 unique individuals. Overall, 7894 cancer tumors were matched to the study group, increasing the number of cancers by as much as 58% compared to previous studies. This combining of study group participants resulted in an effective resource for future research studies on rare cancers and mortality, with more representative of occupations and WTC- exposure.

    • Brackbill, R. M., Kahn, A. R., Li, J., Zeig-Owens, R., Goldfarb, D. G., Skerker, M., Farfel, M. R., Cone, J. E., Yung, J., Walker, D. J., Solomon, A., Qiao, B., Schymura, M. J., Dasaro, C. R., Kristjansson, D., Webber, M. P., Lucchini, R. G., Todd, A. C., Prezant, D. J., … Hall, C. B. (2021). Combining Three Cohorts of World Trade Center Rescue/Recovery Workers for Assessing Cancer Incidence and Mortality. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041386

2020

  • Association Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mortality Among Responders and Civilians Following the September 11, 2001 Disaster
    • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with increased mortality, primarily in studies of veterans. This is the first study to examine whether 9/11-related probable-PTSD measured repeatedly over the life course of enrollees following exposure is associated with an increased risk of mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular and external-cause) over 13 years of follow-up among 9/11 exposed responders and civilians. We studied 63,666 enrollees of the World Trade Center Health Registry and found that PTSD was associated with increased risk of mortality and the associations were strengthened when considering PTSD overtime compared with a single PTSD assessment at study entry. Our findings underscore the importance of long-term efforts to identify and treat those at risk of developing PTSD following a traumatic experience.
    • Giesinger, I., Li, J., Takemoto, E., Cone, J. E., Farfel, M. R., & Brackbill, R. M. (2020). Association Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mortality Among Responders and Civilians Following the September 11, 2001, Disaster. JAMA Network Open, 3(2), e1920476. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.20476

2018

  • Alcohol and drug-related mortality among enrollees in the World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR), 2004-12
    • A study of people in the World Trade Center Health Registry examined deaths linked to alcohol and drug use after 9/11. Of 1,193 deaths between 2003 and 2012, 66 were linked to alcohol or drugs. The risk was higher among men, younger adults, smokers, rescue and recovery workers, and people who were injured on 9/11. People with PTSD also had a higher risk. The findings suggest that major disasters may increase alcohol- and drug-related deaths.
    • Welch, A. E., Zweig, K. C., Liao, T., Yip, J., Davidson, A., Jordan, H., Brackbill, R., & Cone, J. (2018). Alcohol and Drug-Related Mortality Among Enrollees in the World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR), 2004 to 2012. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 60(10), 875–879. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000001384
  • Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Mammography and Prostate-Specific Antigen Screening Among World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees, 2015-2016
    • A study of more than 21,000 people exposed to 9/11 examined rates of breast and prostate cancer screening. Women had mammograms and men had PSA tests more often than people in the general US population. 9/11 exposure was not linked to higher mammogram use. Men ages 60–74 who were closer to the World Trade Center were slightly more likely to have PSA testing. Firefighters also had higher PSA testing rates than other rescue workers.
    • Yung, J., Li, J., Jordan, H. T., & Cone, J. E. (2018). Prevalence of and factors associated with mammography and prostate-specific antigen screening among World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees, 2015–2016. Preventive Medicine Reports, 11, 81–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.05.004
  • Mortality Among Rescue and Recovery Workers and Community Members Exposed to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks, 2003-2014
    • The WTC Health Registry identified the number and causes of death among Registry enrollees between the years of 2003-2014 via linkage to the National Death Index. We compared this number to the expected number of deaths based on mortality rates in the general NYC population. Overall, mortality among WTC Health Registry enrollees was not elevated. In fact, fewer deaths occurred than would be expected, based on comparison to the general NYC population. Registry enrollees had fewer cardiovascular and respiratory deaths than expected based on NYC reference rates. However, there were more deaths due to suicide among rescue-recovery workers than expected; these deaths mostly occurred among workers who did not perform rescue and recovery work in their usual, pre-9/11 work. There were also more deaths than expected due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma among community members. Even though the number of deaths overall was not elevated among Registry enrollees, there appears to have been an increased risk of death associated with higher levels of 9/11-related exposures. The Registry will continue to follow the numbers and causes of death among enrollees.
    • Jordan, H. T., Stein, C. R., Li, J., Cone, J. E., Stayner, L., Hadler, J. L., Brackbill, R. M., & Farfel, M. R. (2018). Mortality among rescue and recovery workers and community members exposed to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks, 2003–2014. Environmental Research, 163, 270–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.01.004

2016

  • Ten-year cancer incidence in rescue/recovery workers and civilians exposed to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
    • Since its inception, cancer surveillance has been a priority for the World Trade Center Health Registry. The Registry first examined cancer incidence from 2003 to 2008 in a study that found more cases than expected of prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and multiple myeloma among rescue/recovery workers enrolled in the Registry, compared to the general New York State population. The article “Ten-year cancer incidence in rescue/recovery workers and civilians exposed to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center” presents findings from a follow up study of cancer incidence. The study found that for all cancer sites combined from 2007-2011, there were 11 percent more cancer cases than expected among rescue/recovery workers, and 8 percent more among civilian survivors compared with the New York State general population. Prostate and thyroid cancer remained elevated among rescue/recovery workers. There were also small, but higher than expected, incidence of skin melanoma in rescue/recovery workers and non-responder civilian survivors. Among civilian survivors, the study found elevated incidence of female breast cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The findings also provide limited evidence for a causal link between 9/11 exposure and cancer. These findings need to be substantiated by additional follow up studies over time.
    • Li, J., Brackbill, R. M., Liao, T. S., Qiao, B., Cone, J. E., Farfel, M. R., Hadler, J. L., Kahn, A. R., Konty, K. J., Stayner, L. T., & Stellman, S. D. (2016). Ten‐year cancer incidence in rescue/recovery workers and civilians exposed to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 59(9), 709–721. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22638
  • Performance of Self-Report to Establish Cancer Diagnoses in Disaster Responders and Survivors, World Trade Center Health Registry, New York, 2001-2007
    • A study of 59,340 people exposed to the World Trade Center disaster tested how accurately they reported having cancer. Researchers compared their reports with records from 11 state cancer registries. Self-reported cancer was accurate in most cases, with 84% of cancer cases correctly reported and 98.5% of people without cancer correctly identified. The findings suggest that self-reported health information can be useful after a disaster, especially when official health records are delayed or unavailable.
    • Li, J., Cone, J. E., Alt, A. K., Wu, D. R., Liff, J. M., Farfel, M. R., & Stellman, S. D. (2016). Performance of Self-Report to Establish Cancer Diagnoses in Disaster Responders and Survivors, World Trade Center Health Registry, New York, 2001–2007. Public Health Reports®, 131(3), 420–429. https://doi.org/10.1177/003335491613100308
  • Cancer in World Trade Center Responders: Findings from Multiple Cohorts and Options for Future Study
    • This was a review of three longitudinal studies of cancer incidence in WTC rescue/recovery worker populations from three WTCHP programs. The review entailed a detailed comparison of the three study populations, follow-up periods, methods of cancer case identification, exposure assessments, data analysis, as well as the similarity in findings, limitations and potential sources of bias. This paper represents an effort to derive valid epidemiologic results about an important health question despite limitations of the underlying data; and suggested a plan to conduct a pooled analysis of merged cohorts of rescue/recovery workers’ cancer incidence, latency and survival to maximize study power, remove overlap among programs, and systemize interpretation of results.
    • Boffetta, P., Zeig‐Owens, R., Wallenstein, S., Li, J., Brackbill, R., Cone, J., Farfel, M., Holden, W., Lucchini, R., Webber, M. P., Prezant, D., & Stellman, S. D. (2016). Cancer in World Trade Center responders: Findings from multiple cohorts and options for future study. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 59(2), 96–105. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.22555

2012

  • Association between World Trade Center exposure and excess cancer risk
    • The Registry’s first cancer analysis found that the overall cancer rate in 2007-2008 among people directly exposed to the 9/11 disaster was not different than that of New York State residents during this period. The study, however, did find small increases in rates of three types of cancer—prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and multiple myeloma—among rescue/recovery workers during this period. This study analyzed cancer diagnoses among nearly 56,000 adult Registry enrollees who resided in New York State at the time of their enrollment.
    • Li, J., Cone, J. E., Kahn, A. R., Brackbill, R. M., Farfel, M. R., Greene, C. M., Hadler, J. L., Stayner, L. T., & Stellman, S. D. (2012). Association Between World Trade Center Exposure and Excess Cancer Risk. JAMA, 308(23), 2479. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.110980

2011

  • Mortality among survivors of the Sept 11, 2001, World Trade Center disaster: results from the World Trade Center Health Registry cohort
    • A study of more than 41,000 people exposed to the World Trade Center disaster looked at deaths from 2003 to 2009. Overall, fewer people died than expected compared with New York City rates. However, among residents, workers, and others who were not rescue workers, higher levels of exposure were linked to a greater risk of death. High exposure was also linked to a higher risk of death from heart disease. More follow-up is needed to understand these risks.
    • Jordan, H. T., Brackbill, R. M., Cone, J. E., Debchoudhury, I., Farfel, M. R., Greene, C. M., Hadler, J. L., Kennedy, J., Li, J., Liff, J., Stayner, L., & Stellman, S. D. (2011). Mortality among survivors of the Sept 11, 2001, World Trade Center disaster: Results from the World Trade Center Health Registry cohort. The Lancet, 378(9794), 879–887. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60966-5