Terrorism Preparedness - New Series of Reports This is the first of a series of reports about state responses to public health threats titled 'Biological and Chemical Terrorism'. This issue deals with several topics including workers compensation, smallpox vaccine, dirty bombs, food and water safety.

Exposure and Human Health Evaluation of Airborne Pollution from the World Trade Center Disaster - New York State and Federal agencies initiated numerous air monitoring activities following September 11, 2001. For more information on the analysis reports, visit the web site at http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=54667.

World Trade Center Collapse has Underwater Traces - New York Harbor now includes dust and debris deposits from the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The combination of the collapse of the towers, the fires that burned at the excavation site for three months and the cleanup activities released dust, debris and contaminants into the local environment. The Jan. 21, 2003, issue of the journal, "EOS," from the American Geophysical Union contains an article about the potential environmental and human health affects from the buildings' collapse. The researchers found a sediment layer with high concentrations of copper, zinc, calcium and strontium; deposits from the World Trade Center ash from drywall and other building materials could account for the increased concentrations. The article can be found online at http://www.agu.org/journals/eo/eo0303/2003EO030001.pdf#anchor.

Ground Zero Workers Had Health Problems in 2002 - Dr. Stephen M. Levin, medical director of the Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine reports that ground zero workers had ear, nose or throat problems more than 10 months after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center; more than half still have lung complaints or abnormal results in pulmonary function tests. A federally funded screening program is providing statistical information to doctors and scientists about the health consequences of the trade center collapse, rescue and recovery effort and cleanup. The Mount Sinai medical center examined 3,549 people; many had severe or extended exposure to smoke and alkaline dust from the disaster. In addition to the physical complaints, 20 percent of the patients had symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder; more than half reported mental health symptoms requiring further evaluation. Congress is expected to appropriate additional fund to continue and expand the medical screening program. The results are similar to those for firefighters, many of whom developed respiratory problems after the rescue and recovery work following the World Trade Center collapse; it is estimated that 300 to 500 firefighters will retire as a result of their respiratory illnesses.

The Mount Sinai program is focusing on people who worked or volunteered at the disaster site or at the Fresh Kills landfill in Staten Island where much of the debris and remains from the World Trade Center were examined and processed. Other studies are focusing on the health of other groups including Lower Manhattan residents and day laborers who cleaned up dust from nearby downtown buildings after the attack.

For more about the study, link to the Medical Center's web page at http://www.mssm.edu/cpm/wtcexams.shtml

Study to Follow 200,000 Exposed to Trade Center Ash - This article appeared in the January 3, 2003 issue of The New York Times and deals with the issue of 200,000 people possibly exposed to World Trade Center ash and how they have been affected. A $20 million registry is being created for residents and employees in Lower Manhattan, rescue and recovery workers, people who were evacuated and anyone else who may have been in the area at the time. The link above will give you information on how to obtain the full article.

9-11 Released a Lot of Pollutants, Many Harmless - This article appeared in the December 26, 2002 issue of Reuters.

PHARMACIES MAY GET ANTI-TERROR SOFTWARE -
New anti-terror software created in Pittsburgh to track suspicious spikes in sales of over-the-counter medicine could be in place at local pharmacies by spring.

To read the entire article, visit:
1. Click here: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/regional/s_105653.html
2. Or visit http://www.pittsburghlive.com and type in NewsCode: 105653

Pharmacists Join War on Terror -   This Washington Post article deals with Maryland's war on terrorism which now includes a rapid-response strike force of roughly 700 men and women with the ability to maneuver in lab coats, not battle fatigues.

Public Health Preparedness Update - November 4, 2002 - This latest version provides a snapshot of the states' activities.

Public Health Funding: Feds Giveth but the States Taketh Away - Public health departments are beginning to receive federal funding for bioterrorism preparedness but other programs are suffering from budget cuts due to the weak economy. The result is that local public health departments are losing staff and state funding for family planning, childhood immunization, substance abuse, abstinence education and other important programs. The American Medical Association has published an article about this situation.

Ground Zero Air Polluted by Diesel Equipment - Diesel pollution from construction equipment and diesel generators at the site of the collapsed World Trade Center towers poses a health threat to some lower Manhattan residents, a new study warns. The same study also provides some good news for local residents, suggesting that apartments and offices near Ground Zero should, after a proper cleaning, be safe for living and working.

Federal Grants to Hospitals and Medical Clinics - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing $140 million in grants to hospitals and medical clinics that lost money responding to the September 11 terrorist attacks. This is a summary of the article that appeared in the New York Times.

States Mull Anti-Cancer Pills for Residents Living Near Nuclear Plants - As states address ways to protect citizens from terrorist attacks, public officials are considering the benefits of distributing anti-cancer pills to populations living near nuclear facilities.

American Academy of Pediatrics - Children, Terrorism & Disasters - This web page is a valuable resource for children-related information.

American Public Health Association (APHA) Report Card Measures Public Health Response to Terrorism - Public health is much better prepared to respond to a bioterrorist threat than a year ago, says a report card released today by the American Public Health Association. However, public health remains vulnerable and work on related fronts is insufficient to prevent future acts of terrorism and their adverse health consequences.

WTC Firefighters Sidelined by Persistent Cough - In the six months after the World Trade Center attacks, the eponymous ailment -- defined as a cough severe enough to require at least four weeks of medical leave -- occurred to 332 firefighters and one emergency medical services worker, says David Prezant, the fire department's deputy chief medical officer. This article is from USA Today, dated September 10, 2002.

MMWR Weekly Report, September 9, 2002/Special Issue - This special issue deal with workers, community members and terrorist attacks.

Public Health Officials Prep For Bioterror With New Hires - States are desperately trying to find a slew of workers, after last fall's anthrax attacks brought the issue of public health front and center for the first time in decades. This is an article from Stateline dated September 6, 2002.

World Trade Center Health Update
Summary of the report from the Environment News Service AmeriScan, Aug. 23, 2002. Investigators from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health now believe that World Trade Center workers' respiratory problems are the result of exposure to dust and airborne contaminants at Ground Zero.

Biological, Chemical and Agricultural Terrorism Legislation Database
The exposure and health assessment was conducted in collaboration with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

States Rush to Claim $1 Billion in Bioterrorism Aid
For public health officials across the country, April 15 was the finish line of a 74-day sprint to submit complex and lengthy bioterror aid requests to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. From Stateline.org. 

Public Health Preparedness
An ongoing debate concerning the current public health system's capability to meet the challenges of emerging threats to the community welfare came to an abrupt climax with the terrorist events of September 11, 2001. 

Strengthening Public Health System Key to Protecting Democracy.
A strong public health system would have the capacity quickly to identify and respond to sources of infection and other medical emergencies; would strengthen first responders' ability to cope with emergencies; and, by demonstrating America's commitment to a rapid response to any crisis, could help prevent human-caused crises from occuring.  This book explains what the American public health system is, why it exists, what it does, and what it needs to be even more effective than it is now.

Environmental Health Aspects of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks
When the World Trade Center (WTC) towers crashed to the ground, they released cement, chemicals and metals into the air, soil and water.

Vaccines to Protect Against Terrorism
With bioterrorism in the spotlight, average citizens wonder how they can be protected from biological warfare. 

Children's Mental Health and Terrorism
Thousands of children may have been affected.

Terrorism and the Health Workforce
How would an already stretched-thin workforce and a shaky public health infrastructure respond to a disaster involving mass casualties? 

The Public Health Role in Fighting Terrorism
The nation's fears of anthrax, smallpox, or chemical, nuclear and radiological weapons have splashed public health issues across headlines with stark new urgency.

Mental Health Benefits
 Mental Health care and the emotional fallout following the attacks.

Prescription Drug Hoarding, Scams and Emergency Controls
State policymakers can help inform consumers about both  appropriate and inappropriate use of medicines, and guard against illegal activities

State Bioterrorism Plan Guidelines
States have until April 15 to submit a work plan in order to qualify for remaining federal bioterrorism funds. (February 2002)

Proposed Bioterrorism Legislation and Related Issues
from Federal Funds Information for States (November 2001)

Bioterrorism
Several states considered or passed laws addressing bioterrorism during recent legislative sessions (September 2001)

Public Health Preparedness & Response
from the CDC.

Substance Abuse & Mental Health
NCSL's Mental Health & Substance Abuse web site. 

Bioterrorism Links