The study, published Friday in Environmental International, was conducted by researchers at New York University Langone Health and NYU School of Medicine.
"Since 9/11, we have focused a lot of attention on the psychological and mental fallout from witnessing the tragedy, but only now are the potential physical consequences of being within the disaster zone itself becoming clear," Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an associate professor at NYU School of Medicine and health epidemiologist, said in a press release.