September 11th, 2001 is a date that has become a horrific part of our nation’s history. As the World Trade Center towers collapsed, thousands of lives were lost and thousands of families shattered. However, when the towers collapsed, dust and debris were released into the air across Manhattan and into New Jersey, spreading over 2,500 contaminants through the air, including poisonous toxins like mercury, lead and asbestos.
Countless people were exposed to the toxins found in the air after the attacks, including first responders, survivors, those who assisted in the cleanup, and those who lived and worked near the World Trade Centers. Since 2001, many of these people exposed to the debris and dust from the collapse of the towers are suffering from their own health problems, ranging from difficulty breathing to different forms of cancer. Unfortunately, thousands of people were exposed to deadly toxins, including asbestos, mercury, asbestos and barium. Additionally, as the buildings and debris burned for nearly four months after the attacks, carcinogens were released into the air making it inevitable that our citizens would become infected with deadly diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma, though extremely rare, is caused only by exposure to asbestos. After the attacks, studies found that asbestos contamination rates in the air near the World Trade Centers were 93,000 times higher than the average amount found in United States cities. In early 2008, the New York State Department of Health released preliminary findings from their study of the after-effects of the 9/11 attacks. It reported that at least 200 of our nation’s first responders and recovery workers have passed away since 9/11, many of which were diagnosed with cancer and other fatal disorders. In fact, the study states that at least 55 of the workers died of lung cancer. Today, 62 percent of people who were caught in the deadly dust and debris on September 11th report respiratory problems or illnesses.
Before construction of the World Trade Center began, the New York Port authority had originally planned to construct the first 40 floors of the building utilizing 5,000 tons of asbestos fireproofing. However, because asbestos’ safety was largely debated at the time of construction, builders did not use the amount of asbestos they had originally planned, and later more than half of the building’s original asbestos was replaced.
Nevertheless, asbestos was still one of the major building materials used in the construction of the World Trade Center. In fact, even after replacing much of the original asbestos, over 2,000 tons of the mineral were released into the air in the form of microscopic fibers after the attacks. Though workers were advised to wear protective safety equipment and that clothes should be changed and bagged before returning home, it became inevitable that workers were being exposed to asbestos on a regular basis.
As asbestos fibers are inhaled, they become lodged in the mesothelial cells which make up the protective lining of the body’s internal organs. The most common types of mesothelioma include pleural mesothelioma (affecting the lining of the lungs), peritoneal mesothelioma (affecting the lining of the abdominal cavity), and pericardial mesothelioma (affecting the lining of the heart). As microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled and ingested, they cannot be expelled from the body, leading to inflammation, scarring and eventually may lead to mesothelioma. Although asbestos exposure is the only cause of mesothelioma, it takes several years for the cancer to become apparent in those who are exposed. In fact, symptoms of mesothelioma are not present for 10-15 years after exposure, meaning countless workers at ground zero who were exposed to asbestos may not yet be experiencing any symptoms of mesothelioma, but may fall victim to the deadly disease in the future.
In addition to developing slowly, mesothelioma is also extremely difficult to diagnose in its early stages without routine testing and screenings. Typically, the symptoms of mesothelioma are ambiguous, including coughing, night sweats, fever and difficulty breathing. Because of this, mesothelioma is oftentimes misdiagnosed as influenza or pneumonia, allowing the disease to advance further without treatment.
Every year, nearly 10,000 people living in the United States die due to asbestos-related illnesses, like lung-cancer and mesothelioma. If you or your family members were exposed to the dust and debris from the attacks on the World Trade Centers, or if you helped in the recovery and cleanup after the attacks, it is recommended that you visit your physician for regular health screenings. Make sure your doctor is aware of the possibility of asbestos exposure. For more information on asbestos cancer and mesothelioma treatment please see additional resources at Asbestos.com
The World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program is completely free and will allow workers and first-responders to confidentially monitor their health through a series of tests and examinations for the next five years. For more information, and to find out if you qualify, please visit WTCExams.org.
For more information on the world trade center disaster and 9/11 exposure, please visit The Asbestos and Mesothelioma Center.