Airway Disease in Rescue/Recovery Workers: Recent Findings from the World Trade Center Collapse

Purpose of Review Our goal is to summarize the airway disease literature since September 11, 2001 (9/11), focusing on studies published since 2011 in World Trade Center-exposed rescue/recovery workers. Recent Findings Since 2011, studies have confirmed relationships between initial World Trade Center exposure intensity, severity of symptoms, airway disease diagnoses, and bio-markers of disease progression. Summary Studies continue to document ongoing morbidity in rescue/recovery workers over 10 years after 9/11. Future research should further identify correlates of symptom persistence and new airway disease diagnoses. The unique characteristics of the airway diseases in this population warrant ongoing monitoring and treatment.