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Interstitial Pulmonary Disease After Exposure at the World Trade Center Disaster Site

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World Trade Center Pulmonary Diseases and Multi-Organ System Manifestations

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Abstract

At present, the most frequently reported pulmonary consequence related to World Trade Center (WTC) dust exposure is airway disease. However, granulomatous responses, interstitial-like pulmonary disease, eosinophilic pneumonitis, and bronchiolitis obliterans with elements of extension into the lung parenchyma have all been reported in relation to exposure to WTC dust. Most of these cases were exposed to the WTC dust during the first few hours and days after the attack and collapse of the towers, when the concentrations of inhalable toxicants are presumed to have been the highest. In vitro and in vivo studies have documented inflammatory mediators at the pulmonary level upon exposure to WTC dust. Pathology and mineralogy studies have identified particles and toxicants within the macrophages at the distal airway/alveolar level, especially aluminum and magnesium silicates. The variability in the reported pathological descriptions remains a challenge. This chapter summarizes the several reports of interstitial lung disease as a consequence of exposure to WTC dust. Ongoing surveillance and follow-up of the cohort of exposed individuals are warranted, especially to grant a longer latency period for these diseases to occur.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Occupational and Environmental Medicine of Long Island, New Hyde Park, NY, 11040, USA

    Jaime Szeinuk

  2. Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA

    Jaime Szeinuk

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  1. Jaime Szeinuk
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Correspondence to Jaime Szeinuk .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Columbia University Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Epidemiology Group, CDC NIOSH U01 0H011308 “9/11 Trauma and Toxicity in Childhood: Longitudinal Health and Behavioral Outcomes”, New York, New York, USA

    Anthony M. Szema

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Szeinuk, J. (2018). Interstitial Pulmonary Disease After Exposure at the World Trade Center Disaster Site. In: Szema, A. (eds) World Trade Center Pulmonary Diseases and Multi-Organ System Manifestations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59372-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59372-2_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-59372-2

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