To address concerns about the short- and long-term health effects of the World Trade Center collapse and cleanup, city, state, and federal agencies and medical institutions have been monitoring people who have lived or worked in the vicinity of the World Trade Center site, and they will continue to do so. The following is an update on programs being conducted:

Medical Screening Program for Workers and Volunteers Who Performed WTC Rescue and Recovery Work

The Mount Sinai Center of Occupational & Environmental Medicine offers free medical assessments, diagnostic referrals, and occupational health education for workers or volunteers involved in the rescue, recovery, or restoration of essential services at or near the World Trade Center site or Staten Island landfill.

Federal funding for this program will support 7,500 screenings in the NY-NJ metropolitan region, with 1,000 additional exams offered throughout the United States through the Association of Occupational & Environmental Clinics.

For more information or to register, call the toll-free WTC Medical Screening Hotline at (888) 702-0630.

Metro-area participating partners and exam locations include

• Manhattan: Mount Sinai Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine; Bellevue/NYU Occupational & Environmental Medicine Clinic
• Queens: Queens College Center for the Biology of Natural Systems
• Long Island (Stony Brook/Nassau): SUNY Stony Brook/L.I.
• Occupational & Environmental Health Center
• New Jersey (Piscataway): UMDNJ Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Institute
• World Trade Center Health Registry

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene have created a registry to track the health status and demographics of about 200,000 residents, employees, volunteers, or World Trade Center site workers who may have been exposed to contaminants at the World Trade Center site. The enrollment period has ended, but those interested in obtaining more information about the registry and its findings can visit the World Trade Center Health Registry website or call (866) NYC-WTCR (866-692-9827).

September Space Lower Manhattan

September Space Lower Manhattan, part of the World Cares Center, focuses on the local population who lived through the 9/11 attacks and are now witnessing rebuilding efforts. The center offers programs that are adapted to the ongoing needs specific to Lower Manhattan residents, small business owners, employees of corporations relocating, and workers returning to rebuild the area. Additionally, the Lower Manhattan center offers daytime programming and extended family programming. The center is located at 11 Broadway, 11th floor. For more information call (646) 289-3098.