The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which administers the World Trade Center Health Program, said Aug. 25 that the program is establishing a research cohort for people who were 21 years old or younger when they were exposed to 9/11.

The initiative is intended to address a significant gap in existing research. More than 1,500 scientific publications have examined health effects among people exposed to 9/11, but NIOSH said relatively little research has focused specifically on those who were exposed during childhood, adolescence, young adulthood or before birth.

Researchers focus on early-life exposure

The new research effort will examine people who were exposed while their mother was pregnant, in utero, or during childhood, adolescence and young adulthood.

NIOSH said younger people may experience different health consequences from environmental exposure because their bodies are still developing. Children can also receive proportionally greater exposure relative to body size and may process and eliminate some harmful chemicals differently from adults.

Researchers have identified several areas for further study, including respiratory health and lung development, reproductive health, brain and mental health, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

The new cohort will allow researchers to examine these questions over time rather than relying only on studies conducted shortly after the attacks.

Earlier studies found lasting health effects

Research conducted over the years has already identified health problems among people who were children when the World Trade Center was attacked.

A study of children enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry found that exposure to the dust cloud was associated with new asthma diagnoses. Researchers also reported respiratory symptoms among a substantial share of the children studied.

Another study of children who were 8 or younger on Sept. 11 found associations between World Trade Center exposure and the later development of asthma. Both direct exposure to the dust cloud and exposure to dust inside homes were associated with higher asthma risk.

Researchers have also found evidence that some environmental contaminants remained relevant long after the attacks. A study of adolescents exposed to the World Trade Center collapse found elevated levels of dioxins and furans more than 12 years after 9/11 compared with an unexposed comparison group.

The findings do not establish that every person exposed during childhood will develop a long-term illness. They demonstrate why researchers consider continued monitoring important.

Mental and physical health remain part of the research

The health questions extend beyond respiratory disease.

A study examining people directly exposed to 9/11 as children found that those with high exposure were more likely than an unexposed comparison group to report psychiatric disorders and physical health conditions later in life. The study also found a higher prevalence of combined physical and psychiatric conditions among the highly exposed group.

Researchers have separately reported increased hospitalization risks among people who were younger than 18 when exposed to the World Trade Center disaster. The findings supported continued long-term monitoring of people exposed during childhood.

These studies form part of the evidence base behind the federal government’s decision to expand research focused specifically on early-life exposure.

New cohort aims to close research gap

NIOSH said the new cohort is an important first step toward addressing the limited amount of research involving people exposed to 9/11 at young ages.

The World Trade Center Health Program has funded research into 9/11-related health effects since 2011. Its research has contributed to understanding illnesses affecting responders and community members, but the agency says much less is known about how exposure during key stages of development may affect health later in life.

The agency is inviting people who were 21 or younger at the time of their exposure, as well as others interested in the initiative, to receive information about the research effort. Details on participation will be provided as the program develops.

The new research will therefore focus not only on documenting illnesses already associated with 9/11 exposure, but also on determining how early-life exposure may influence health across the life course.

Reporting Credit: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the World Trade Center Health Program — official information on the new early-life exposure research cohort, research priorities and existing evidence on health effects among people exposed to 9/11 at young ages.

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a partial rollback of rules aimed at limiting dangerous “forever chemicals” in drinking water — a surprising move just a year after the Biden administration set strict national standards.

What Are Forever Chemicals?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of man-made chemicals used for decades in products like nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, and water-resistant clothing. Their unique ability to resist heat, water, and oil made them incredibly useful — but they also resist breaking down in the environment, earning the nickname “forever chemicals.”

Why Should We Care About PFAS?

These chemicals build up in our bodies over time and have been linked to serious health problems, including kidney disease, low birth weight, high cholesterol, and some cancers. Because of these risks, the Biden administration set strict limits on two of the most common PFAS types — PFOA and PFOS — at just 4 parts per trillion, aiming to protect millions of Americans.

What Did the EPA Just Change?

Under new leadership, the EPA is easing some of these protections:

• Rolling back limits on three types of PFAS: GenX substances (commonly found in North Carolina), PFHxS, and PFNA.
• Scrapping the limit on a mix of PFAS chemicals.
• Extending the deadline for utilities to meet standards on PFOA and PFOS by two years — now 2031.

Fortunately, only a small number of water utilities exceed limits for the less common PFAS types. Most problems still stem from PFOA and PFOS.

Why Is This Controversial?

Environmental groups argue the EPA doesn’t have the legal authority to weaken these rules under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which is designed to prevent loosening standards once they’re set.

Erik Olson from the Natural Resources Defense Council said, “The law is very clear that the EPA can’t repeal or weaken the drinking water standard.”

Meanwhile, industry groups have mixed feelings. The American Chemistry Council criticized the original strict rules for ignoring costs, while utility organizations welcomed the rollback of some regulations but said it doesn’t reduce the overall cost much.

Mark White, a water expert, noted that some utilities wanted higher limits for PFOA and PFOS, but the deadline extension gives everyone more time to comply.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you live in areas with water utilities dealing with PFAS, it might take longer to see improvements. The extended deadlines reflect how complex and costly removing these chemicals from water supplies can be.

Water industry consultant Mike McGill summed it up: “This gives water pros more time to deal with the ones we know are bad, and we are going to need more time. Some utilities are just finding out now where they stand.”

Source: AP News – What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means

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A startling new study has found that a group of synthetic chemicals commonly found in everyday plastic products may be linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths from heart disease each year.

The chemicals in question are phthalates — often referred to as “everywhere chemicals” because of how widely they’re used. These compounds are found in food containers, cosmetics, shampoos, perfumes, vinyl flooring, children’s toys, and countless other items many people use daily.

According to research published in the journal eBiomedicine, exposure to one specific phthalate — DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate) — may have contributed to over 368,000 global deaths in 2018 among adults aged 55 to 64. That accounts for more than 10% of all global heart disease deaths in that age group.

“Phthalates trigger inflammation in the coronary arteries and can worsen existing heart conditions, leading to fatal events,” explained Dr. Leonardo Trasande, senior author of the study and professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Phthalates are also known to disrupt hormones, including testosterone — a critical factor in male heart health. Low testosterone in men has long been linked to increased cardiovascular risk.

The study found the highest share of phthalate-related heart disease deaths in:

• Africa: 30% of total deaths linked to DEHP
• East Asia and the Middle East: 25% combined

Lead author Sara Hyman described the findings as a wake-up call. “These chemicals pose a serious global health threat. It’s time for people and governments to take them seriously.”

Previous studies have already linked phthalates to:

• Reproductive issues in men and baby boys
• Asthma
• Obesity in children
• Certain cancers

A past U.S.-focused study by Trasande’s team found that phthalate exposure may lead to 91,000 to 107,000 premature deaths annually among Americans aged 55 to 64. That research estimated an economic toll of $40 to $47 billion per year in lost productivity.

Phthalates are used to make plastics softer and more flexible. You’ll often find them in:

• PVC pipes, vinyl flooring, and medical tubing
• Food packaging, detergents, and furniture
• Personal care products like soap, lotion, hair spray, and cosmetics

Exposure occurs through breathing, eating, drinking, or skin contact — particularly when heating plastics or using products that release phthalate-laden fragrance.

While environmental health experts are sounding alarms, the American Chemistry Council, which represents the chemical industry, declined to comment directly on the study. The group said its High Phthalates Panel is focused on highlighting the benefits of phthalates like DINP and DIDP.

Some scientists also pointed out a limitation: the study assumes that DEHP exposure affects populations around the world in the same way it does in the U.S., which may not account for differences in healthcare access or exposure levels.

The good news: there are practical steps you can take to reduce your exposure.

Simple ways to avoid phthalates:

• Ditch plastic food containers for glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or wood
• Never microwave food in plastic
• Avoid scented cleaning supplies, lotions, and air fresheners
• Choose fresh or frozen produce instead of canned or processed items
• Encourage frequent handwashing
• Steer clear of plastics labeled with recycling codes 3 (PVC), 6 (PS), and 7 (Other)

“Avoiding plastic wherever possible and cutting down on ultra-processed foods can make a real difference,” said Trasande.

Source: CNN – Common household plastics linked to thousands of global deaths from heart disease, study finds

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