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The six-year study, which included more than 14,000 firefighters and emergency service personnel treated for health problems, found that 79 percent of responders who were at the site the morning of September 11th reported at least one kind of respiratory problem, such as coughing, wheezing or chest pain.

That's compared to 69 percent of workers who responded 36 hours later, and 50 percent of responders who arrived after September 12th.

Within minutes of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001, hundreds of firefighters were deployed to the twin towers. After its collapse, thousands more worked day after day at the site, first on rescue and then on recovery.

A year after the attacks, the report finds the lung function of all first responders drastically declined.

"These statistics are heart-breaking and truly underscore the sacrifice and bravery that the FDNY exhibited in the days and months following the attacks," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

An average 146 firefighters and fire officers retired each year since 2001 because of lung problems, compared to just 49 in the years prior.

Lieutenant Girard Owens has since retired, but he faces an array of medical issues, including respiratory and heart trouble because of the time he spent working at the site.

“Well, I feel right now that I'm declining, because I’m feeling weaker and weaker,” said Owens.

Owens is one of many who've retired because of his health.

“Plus I still don't sleep,” added Owens. “My sleeping habits after 9/11 was never the same.”

The report also looked at the mental health of firefighters.

"It is very heavy respiratory, although there are other conditions as well, emotional distress, we'll say, because a lot of our people are still reliving the events of 9/11," said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppettta.

The report found that a year after the attacks, 61 percent of responders reported sleep related problems, 60 percent complained of psychological issues, 58 percent reported a change in mood, and 29 percent had flashbacks of the event.

Meanwhile, a state appeals panel gave the go ahead Friday for nearly 300 September 11th workers suffering from illnesses to bring lawsuits to federal court.

The panel says the U.S. District Court in Manhattan has exclusive jurisdiction over all 9/11-related cases. Nearly 9,000 lawsuits connected to September 11th have already been filed there.

A spokesperson for the city's Law Department says the decision is under review.