Officers who worked near the World Trade Center site after the September 11th terrorist attacks seem to show early signs of heart problems, according to a new study released today by Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Nearly half of about 1,200 law enforcement workers who went to the program in the city to monitor medical effects from the terrorist attack showed impaired heart function in ultrasound tests.

The study suggests the signs show a higher rate than expected for the officers' ages.

However, there are some holes in the study, as researches did not verify workers' presence at the site and it is not said how many workers many may have had pre-existing heart problems.

The study also does not compare the results to other New Yorkers or police in other urban areas exposed to pollution.

The exams were conducted from January 2008 through June 2009 and the study was limited to workers between the ages of 40 to 50 years old.

Workers with high blood pressure or heart valve problems were not included.

The study's release follows Thursday's announcement of a settlement that could pay more than $657 million to more than 10,000 World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers who say they were sickened by the site's dust.

On Friday, the federal judge overseeing the settlement said the deal will only be adopted if it is approved by 95 percent of the plaintiffs.