Rare Pneumonia in Fireman Working at "Ground Zero”

A rare case of acute eosinophillic pneumonia was diagnosed in a New York City fireman who had been working 16-hour days searching for survivors among the rubble of the World Trade Center. The diagnosis was reported in the September 15, 2002 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Doctors who attended the fireman believe the eosinophilic pneumonia was caused by exceptionally high dust exposure. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed he suffered from patchy ground glass density, thickened bronchial walls, and abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleura. An analysis of lung fluid identified fly ash, degraded glass, and asbestos fibers. The doctors, from New York University School of Medicine (NY, USA), were able to reverse the course of the disease through the use of oxygen and corticosteroid drugs.

An accompanying editorial in the same issue pointed out that acute eosinophilic pneumonia is a condition recognized only in the last 15 years and is of uncertain etiology. Analysis of the dust from the World Trade Center found that predominately coarse particles of cement and gypsum were extremely alkaline, making the dust very irritating to the respiratory system. Unfortunately, protective masks can't be tolerated for more than a few hours. The editorial expressed hope that out of this disaster will come new ways of protecting the respiratory systems of those who risk their lives to save others.





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