300,000 New Yorkers Could Be Headed For 9/11-Related Health Crisis

WEBWIRE – Wednesday, May 27, 2009

(NEW BERN, NC)—Though we are approaching the eighth anniversary of 9/11, many New Yorkers are still dealing with the events of that day in the form of health problems. Now, it’s believed, as many as 300,000 are living with diseases that could worsen in the years to come.
More than 70,000 New Yorkers have registered with the World Trade Center Health Registry, which tracks the health effects caused by the pollutants releases during the attacks. But many more have been excluded because of the limited area included in the survey—just one square mile. So, how many are really sick?

“It’s obvious that thousands and thousands of New Yorkers are going to be battling illnesses in the coming years,” says Steve Centore, a federal first responder and Navy veteran who authored One of Them: A First Responder’s Story about his own experiences during and after his times at ground zero, “We’re going to see a major health crisis in the coming years.”

One of Them is Mr. Centore’s shocking account of his deteriorating health following 9/11. According to the registry, he’s not alone. What’s more, these statistics include only those who were eligible to respond to the registry’s survey:
• Sixty-seven percent reported new or worsening respiratory symptom including persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, throat irritation or sinus irritation after 9/11.
• Nearly three percent of adult enrollees reported newly diagnosed asthma two to three years after 9/11.
• Sixteen percent screened positive for current PTSD and eight percent for serious psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, two to three years post-9/11.
• Respiratory problems and mental health conditions were more likely among enrollees who reported being caught in the dust cloud, witnessing a traumatic event or sustaining an injury
To buy the breakout book One of Them: A First Responder’s Story, visit www.SteveCentore.com or www.wadv-oneofthem.com. The book is also available on Borders.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

For more information about One of Them: A First Responder’s Story, contact Steve Centore directly at Scentore@yahoo.com.

(One of Them: A First Responder’s Story by Steven M. Centore; ISBN: 0-9801274-0-8; $16.95; 208 pages; 5½”x 8½”; softcover; Worldwide Association of Disabled Veterans, Inc.)