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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)-Related Mortality Among World Trade Center-Exposed and Non-World Trade
Ankura Singh1,2, Rachel Zeig-Owens1,2,3, Madeline F Cannon1,2
1Bureau of Health Services, World Trade Center Health Program, Fire Department of the City of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|November 27, 2025
Summary
World Trade Center (WTC) rescue workers exposed to WTC dust did not have an increased risk of death from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease. ALS mortality rates were actually lower in WTC-exposed workers compared to non-exposed workers.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease.
- Occupational exposures, including those at the World Trade Center (WTC), have been investigated for potential links to ALS.
- Understanding ALS risk in WTC-exposed populations is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) mortality rates among World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed and non-WTC-exposed rescue and recovery workers.
- To compare ALS mortality in WTC-exposed workers against non-exposed workers and the general US population.
Main Methods:
- Study included 33,122 fire department rescue/recovery workers aged 18-70 on September 11, 2001 (9/11).
- Follow-up data on mortality due to ALS (motor neuron disease) were collected until December 31, 2023.
- Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and relative rates (RRs) were calculated using US population data and Poisson regression models.
Main Results:
- Five WTC-exposed and sixteen non-WTC-exposed participants died of ALS between 9/11 and December 31, 2023.
- ALS mortality rates were lower in WTC-exposed workers (RR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.49-0.60).
- Neither WTC-exposed (SMR = 0.44) nor non-WTC-exposed (SMR = 1.06) workers showed elevated ALS mortality compared to the general US population.
Conclusions:
- This study suggests that exposure at the World Trade Center (WTC) is not associated with an increased risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) mortality.
- ALS-related mortality was not elevated in either WTC-exposed or non-WTC-exposed rescue/recovery workers compared to the general population.
- Further research may be warranted to fully understand the long-term health impacts of WTC exposure.
