L.A. Firefighters Trace Illnesses to Trade Center

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http://www.latimes.com/news/

February 14, 2002

LOS ANGELES

L.A. Firefighters Trace Illnesses to Trade Center

Health: Persistent respiratory problems result in 25 workers' compensation

claims.

By PATRICK McGREEVY, TIMES STAFF WRITER

In the five months since they helped in the search at the World Trade

Center, 25 Los Angeles firefighters have filed workers' compensation claims

for respiratory problems they say that work caused.

Most of the firefighters have significantly recovered with treatment by

specialists, but a few have lingering problems, including coughing, throat

irritation and breathing difficulties, said Capt. Bushman, the

department's medical liaison officer.

" I would say it was [caused by] the particulate matter in the area at ground

zero, including silica from the glass that was pulverized when the buildings

collapsed and the pulverized concrete, as well as smoke, " Bushman said. Not

all of the 93 Los Angeles firefighters who helped in New York for 10 days in

September have health problems.

But some, like Don Forrest, still have daily coughing attacks.

" I'm still coughing every morning for about half an hour, " said Forrest, a

40-year veteran of the Fire Department. " It's a cause for concern, because

it has lingered for some five months now. "

Others continue to have problems when they are exposed to smoke or other

irritants, Bushman said. All the firefighters are back on the job, although

many missed work as they recovered, he said.

Forrest said his doctor told him the throat irritation and coughing will

pass, but he and other firefighters who went to ground zero still are

waiting for final reports on what kinds of toxic chemicals they encountered.

Because there was not enough breathing equipment for all searchers, Forrest

said, he and other firefighters wore only dust masks.

The workers' compensation claims have allowed the firefighters' treatment to

be paid for by the city, which plans to ask the Federal Emergency Management

Agency for reimbursement .

This week, more than 1,300 people, mostly rescue workers, notified New York

City that they may sue for damages stemming from their work at the World

Trade Center. Their claims are a first step before lawsuits can be filed.

On Monday, a team of California scientists reported that air samples

collected about a mile from the World Trade Center in the weeks after the

terrorist attacks found extremely high levels of tiny particles laced with

soot and metals.