Abstract
Asthma is defined as a heterogeneous disease with respiratory symptoms (wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough) that vary over time and intensity, and variable expiratory airflow limitation. Environmental and occupational exposures contribute to its causation. WTC-related or aggravated asthma is considered a World Trace Center (WTC) Health Program certifiable disease. Criteria include defined exposures to the WTC dust and fumes, the presence of symptoms, or aggravated symptoms that are present within 5 years after the last potential for WTC dust/fume exposures (the last 9/11 exposures occurred on July 31, 2002), and a WTC-provider diagnosis of asthma. Asthma is the 3rd most common non-cancer certification among WTC responders and survivors. In this review we provide evidence-based information on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with WTC-related or aggravated asthma and include peer-reviewed research findings in WTC-exposed populations.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Disclaimer
The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (CDC/HHS), or the U.S. Government.
Institutional review board (IRB) review
This activity did not involve human subjects and therefore did not require IRB review.