 | | |  Dear Enrollees,
On behalf of the entire team at the World Trade Center Health Registry, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your continued participation in our surveys over the years. Your commitment to sharing your experiences, health updates, and personal stories has been essential in helping us understand the long‑term physical and mental health effects stemming from exposure to the 9/11 disaster.
Since our founding, the Registry has reached out to over 71,000 enrollees — survivors, rescue and recovery workers, residents, and others directly impacted by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Your survey responses have become the foundation of a body of research that has been instrumental in influencing public health policy and medical research and securing health care resources for those affected.
Thanks to your input, we’ve been able to publish over 150 scientific studies that have raised awareness in the medical community about the unique health challenges faced by 9/11 survivors. Your voices have helped ensure that respiratory illness, post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cancer risks, and other serious conditions related to 9/11 exposure continue to receive the attention, funding, and medical understanding they deserve.
This work would not be possible without you. Every completed survey strengthens the Registry’s ability to advocate for the health needs of those impacted. Together, we have not only kept the memory of 9/11 alive — we have made sure the needs of its survivors are not forgotten.
Thank you for your trust, your time, and your invaluable contributions to this ongoing mission.
With deepest appreciation,
Mark Farfel, ScD
Director
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| |  As the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Registry approaches its 25th anniversary, we are launching a storytelling campaign to celebrate the people whose experiences give our data meaning. Whether you are an enrollee who was exposed to 9/11, a staff member who comforted survivors, or a researcher who helped turn raw statistics into life‑changing insights, we want to hear from you.
Over the next several months we will collect, archive, and share first‑person accounts that illuminate the Registry’s journey from its founding to the present day. Selected stories may appear in three formats:
| • | A commemorative booklet that captures the breadth of our community
| | • | Short videos that feature voices and images of 9/11 survivors
| | • | Permanent archival materials that safeguard these memories for future generations
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Stories of resilience, innovation, and community support can inspire future public health initiatives, remind policymakers why ongoing resources for 9/11 survivors and their families matter, and offer comfort to families who lost loved ones.
Submitting is easy. Record a brief video, write a reflection, share an audio message, or send us a request to interview you in person or remotely. To send your submission or nominate someone whose story you think should be documented, email pgam...@health.nyc.gov.
Every story enriches the historical record and guides ongoing research into the long‑term effects of 9/11. Thank you for standing with us for nearly 25 years and helping make sure our legacy is told not only through statistics but through the powerful human voices that give those numbers purpose. |
| Formation and Mission  Soon after 9/11, several key organizations and individuals, including advocacy groups such as the September 11th Families’ Association and the Coalition of 9/11 Families, decided to create a memorial to remember those who lost their lives in the attacks and provide a space for reflection. This led to the creation of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum (formally known as the National September 11 Memorial & Museum) at the WTC site.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum opened in September 2011, exactly 10 years after the 9/11 attacks. Through its commemorative spaces, exhibitions, and educational programs, the institution honors the nearly 3,000 people who died tragically in the September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993, attacks, as well as those who survived and the first responders and recovery workers who risked their own lives to save others.
 Design and ArchitectureThe memorial, named “Reflecting Absence,” features two massive reflecting pools and cascading waterfalls, which are set where the Twin Towers stood. The names of every person who died in the attacks are inscribed on bronze panels surrounding the pools, serving as a powerful reminder of the immense loss.
The museum’s entry pavilion, made of steel and glass, was designed to symbolize the human spirit’s resilience (steel) and openness (glass). The pavilion features two 70‑foot “tridents,” which are made of steel taken from the Twin Towers’ facade and represent the history of 9/11.
Exhibitions and Collection  The museum has several exhibitions that help tell the story of 9/11, including:
| • | Historical exhibition: A chronological account of the events of 9/11, the day before, and the days that followed, featuring artifacts, images, and personal stories.
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| • | Memorial exhibition: A tribute to the people who died in the attacks, featuring portraits and profiles that allow visitors to learn about each individual’s life and legacy.
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| • | Foundation Hall: A vast space that houses the “Last Column,” a 36-foot steel beam recovered from Ground Zero covered with inscriptions and tributes from recovery workers.
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The museum also houses a permanent collection of more than 74,000 artifacts, including steel remnants from the Twin Towers, personal items recovered from Ground Zero, emergency vehicles, and recorded testimonies from survivors and first responders.
 Education and Public Programs One of the museum’s goals is to educate the public about 9/11. It offers resources for teachers and students, including lesson plans and interactive activities designed to engage learners of all ages. Public programs feature discussions, film screenings, and presentations that explore themes related to the attacks and the events that followed and broader issues such as terrorism, resilience, and healing.
For more information, visit 911memorial.org.
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| Sharing Health Handouts With Your Health Care Provider |
| If you were exposed to the toxic dust cloud on 9/11, you could be at risk for a variety of conditions, some of which may not be easily recognizable by health care providers unfamiliar with 9/11‑related conditions. If you are experiencing symptoms of a 9/11‑related condition, bringing one of our health handouts to your provider is a simple yet powerful step in advocating for your health.
We have health handouts on different 9/11‑related conditions, including hearing loss, non‑Hodgkin lymphoma, breast cancer, and sleep apnea. These handouts can help your provider evaluate your symptoms, order you the right tests, and make referrals for specialized care. As we continue to learn about the long‑term health effects of 9/11, sharing information with your provider, especially if they are not part of the WTC Health Program Nationwide Provider Network, is important in getting the care you need.
To read our health handouts, visit nyc.gov/911health/materials.
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| COPD and Asthma‑COPD Overlap |
|  Many rescue, recovery, and cleanup workers and nearby residents were exposed to the toxic dust cloud on 9/11. This exposure has been linked to chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma‑COPD overlap (ACO).
A study of more than 17,000 WTC responders showed that those who arrived at the disaster site within the first 48 hours were at higher risk of developing COPD and ACO. These diseases can be life‑changing and worsen over time if not treated early, making early diagnosis very important.
To read our health handout on COPD and ACO, which includes information on symptoms and what to do if you have either condition, visit on.nyc.gov/wtchr‑handout‑copd.
To watch videos on COPD, ACO, and other 9/11‑related conditions, visit nyc.gov/911health/videos.
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| Health and Economic Outcomes Related to Pain Among Enrollees |
|  A recent study by the Registry looked at how pain affected various health and economic outcomes, such as general well-being, household income, and early retirement, among enrollees.
Enrollees who had extreme pain in the last four weeks that interfered with work, compared with those who did not, were:
| • | 3.1 times more likely to retire early
| | • | 5.3 times more likely to have a household income less than $50,000
| | • | 2.6 times more likely to report a recent decrease in income
| | • | 14.4 times more likely to report many poor health days
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Enrollees who had ongoing chronic (long-term) pain also experienced serious effects. Compared with enrollees who did not report having chronic pain, they were:
| • | 1.6 times more likely to report a recent decrease in income
| | • | 2 times more likely to retire early
| | • | 2 times more likely to have a household income less than $50,000
| | • | 2.8 times more likely to report many poor health days
| | • | 8.5 times more likely to not be working due to health problems
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The study also found that enrollees who did not have pain were usually younger, had received higher education, and had higher incomes. This shows that pain is not just a health issue but that it can go on to seriously impact a person’s quality of life and economic stability. These results highlight the long‑term effects of 9/11 and why pain management and support remain important, even decades later.
To read more about this study and other research papers, visit nyc.gov/911health/research.
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Brite J, Maqsood J, Yu S, Alper HE, Cone JE. Chronic and acute pain and adverse economic outcomes in a 9/11‑exposed cohort. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(11):1490. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21111490
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|  Stress and exposure to a traumatic event, such as 9/11, may increase the risk of tobacco use, which can lead to lung cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual lung cancer screening for anyone who is age 50 to 80, has at least a 20 “pack year” history of smoking, and currently smokes or quit in the last 15 years.
Screening can detect lung cancer before you have symptoms. Detecting lung cancer early may save your life. Ask your provider to help you figure out your pack years, your lung cancer risk, and if you should get a screening.
For tobacco treatment resources and information, including local programs, visit nyc.gov/nycquits or call 311.
For more information about lung cancer, including screening, visit nyc.gov/lungcancer.
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| How 9/11 Strengthened Global Emergency Preparedness and Response |
| The events of 9/11 led to significant improvements in how governments, organizations, and international agencies prepare for and manage emergencies, including:
| • |  The development of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in 2004 to help standardize emergency response procedures and improve communication across federal, state, and local agencies in the U.S. Other countries later created their own systems based on NIMS, ensuring a stronger, more global approach to emergency management.
| | • | The introduction of stricter airline security measures by the International Civil Aviation Organization
| | • | The creation of government partnerships, such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum in 2011, to share information and prevent future attacks
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Improvements such as these have helped countries better respond to disasters and other emergencies in the years following 9/11, potentially saving countless lives.
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