A study by two universities indicates 1-in-6 workers who cleaned up Ground Zero in New York after Sept. 11, 2001, suffers from major depression. (Great photos)
Conducted by Columbia and Johns Hopkins universities, the study found 13.5 percent of the sanitation and construction workers who labored amid the rubble and toxic dust exhibit definite symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, the New York Post reports.
The mail-in survey drew responses from 1,131 Ground Zero workers with 73.1 percent reporting World Trade Center cough while 19.8 percent said they had asthma.
Studying the responses, researchers said they found a positive link between the symptoms of PTSD and the respiratory problems that plagued thousands of workers who inhaled toxic smoke and dust at the site.
A law easing the way for Ground Zero workers to qualify for workmen’s compensation benefits covering job-related mental disorders has recently been approved by New York’s governor.
Firemen work in the rubble at the base of the World Trade Center Sept. 11, 2001.
Graphic shows buildings damaged in the Sept. 11 attacks.
A giant American flag flies from the American Express building Sept. 16, 2001, overlooking the smoldering rubble of the World Trade Center.
Rescue workers continue their search as smoke rises from the rubble of the World Trade Center Sept. 13, 2001.
A view of Ground Zero from the east on Oct. 16, 2001.
Recovery effort in progress at the Ground Zero in December 2001.
Recovery workers and heavy equipment work on uncovering more debris in the rubble below street level as cleanup efforts continue at the northern side at the site of the World Trade Center.
Overall view of work at Ground Zero with the World Financial Center in the background and the Millenium Tower building in the left foreground.
Workers continue to reinforce a retaining wall on what is known as the ‘bathtub’ which surrounds the Trade Center site, below ground.
Workers at the site of the World Trade Center begin assembling steel beams along what will be the replacement tunnel for the 1 and 9 subway line.
Retaining wall below West St. at Ground Zero.
Work in progress at Ground Zero.
Port Authority Police Lt. John Ryan walks into the PATH train tunnel under the World Trade Center disaster site.
Supported in a construction bucket, workers pause to look back at the top of the last remaining steel beam of the south World Trade Center building.
Ground Zero in twilight, shot from Lower Manhattan Development Corportaion in One Liberty Plaza.
May 15, 2002
The World Trade Center collapse site is nearly cleared of debris with only a few levels of the parking structure standing. This north-looking view has World Financial Center at left and Verizon building behind Ground Zero.
May 24, 2002
View of Ground Zero from 1 Liberty Plaza.
Jul 16, 2002
Work is rapidly progressing on Ground Zero and the subway line that runs through it.
Jul 25, 2002