BACKGROUND: Our goal was to examine the effect of the World Trade Center (WTC) attack and subsequent New York City Fire Department (FDNY) rescue/recovery activities on firefighter retirements. We also analyzed the financial impact associated with the increased number and proportion of service-connected "accidental" disability retirements on the FDNY pension system. METHODS: A total of 7,763 firefighters retired between 9/11/1994 and 9/10/2008. We compared the total number of retirements and the number and proportion of accidental disability retirements 7 years before and 7 years after the WTC attack. We categorized WTC-related accidental disability retirements by medical cause and worked with the New York City Office of the Actuary to approximate the financial impact by cause. RESULTS: In the 7 years before 9/11 there were 3,261 retirements, 48% (1,571) of which were accidental disability retirements. In the 7 years after 9/11, there were 4,502 retirements, 66% (2,970) were accidental disability retirements, of which 47% (1,402) were associated with WTC-related injuries or illnesses. After 9/11, the increase in accidental disability retirements was, for the most part, due to respiratory-related illnesses. Additional increases were attributed to psychological-related illnesses and musculoskeletal injuries incurred at the WTC site. Pension benefits associated with WTC-related accidental disability retirements have produced an increased financial burden of over $826 million on the FDNY pension system. CONCLUSIONS: The WTC attacks affected the health of the FDNY workforce resulting in more post-9/11 retirements than expected, and a larger proportion of these retirees with accidental disability pensions.
BACKGROUND: Our goal was to examine the effect of the World Trade Center (WTC) attack and subsequent New York City Fire Department (FDNY) rescue/recovery activities on firefighter retirements. We also analyzed the financial impact associated with the increased number and proportion of service-connected "accidental" disability retirements on the FDNY pension system. METHODS: A total of 7,763 firefighters retired between 9/11/1994 and 9/10/2008. We compared the total number of retirements and the number and proportion of accidental disability retirements 7 years before and 7 years after the WTC attack. We categorized WTC-related accidental disability retirements by medical cause and worked with the New York City Office of the Actuary to approximate the financial impact by cause. RESULTS: In the 7 years before 9/11 there were 3,261 retirements, 48% (1,571) of which were accidental disability retirements. In the 7 years after 9/11, there were 4,502 retirements, 66% (2,970) were accidental disability retirements, of which 47% (1,402) were associated with WTC-related injuries or illnesses. After 9/11, the increase in accidental disability retirements was, for the most part, due to respiratory-related illnesses. Additional increases were attributed to psychological-related illnesses and musculoskeletal injuries incurred at the WTC site. Pension benefits associated with WTC-related accidental disability retirements have produced an increased financial burden of over $826 million on the FDNY pension system. CONCLUSIONS: The WTC attacks affected the health of the FDNY workforce resulting in more post-9/11 retirements than expected, and a larger proportion of these retirees with accidental disability pensions.
Authors: Rachel Zeig-Owens; Anna Nolan; Barbara Putman; Ankura Singh; David J Prezant; Michael D Weiden Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2016-09 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: Winnie W Kung; Xinhua Liu; Emily Goldmann; Debbie Huang; Xiaoran Wang; Keon Kim; Patricia Kim; Lawrence H Yang Journal: J Community Psychol Date: 2018-06-09
Authors: Ankura Singh; Charles Liu; Barbara Putman; Rachel Zeig-Owens; Charles B Hall; Theresa Schwartz; Mayris P Webber; Hillel W Cohen; Kenneth I Berger; Anna Nolan; David J Prezant; Michael D Weiden Journal: Chest Date: 2018-07-17 Impact factor: 9.410
Authors: Mayris P Webber; Michelle S Glaser; Jessica Weakley; Jackie Soo; Fen Ye; Rachel Zeig-Owens; Michael D Weiden; Anna Nolan; Thomas K Aldrich; Kerry Kelly; David Prezant Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2011-09 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: Michael D Weiden; Sophia Kwon; Erin Caraher; Kenneth I Berger; Joan Reibman; William N Rom; David J Prezant; Anna Nolan Journal: Semin Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2015-05-29 Impact factor: 3.119
Authors: Soo Jung Cho; Ghislaine C Echevarria; Sophia Kwon; Bushra Naveed; Edward J Schenck; Jun Tsukiji; William N Rom; David J Prezant; Anna Nolan; Michael D Weiden Journal: Respir Med Date: 2013-11-13 Impact factor: 3.415
Authors: Sophia Kwon; Myeonggyun Lee; George Crowley; Theresa Schwartz; Rachel Zeig-Owens; David J Prezant; Mengling Liu; Anna Nolan Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2021-11-01 Impact factor: 21.405