September 11, 2001 changed the fabric of American life forever. Things are handled differently now, such as airport security, passport applications and business travel, just to name a few. But our security measures are not the only things that have changed.
What about the health of those who responded first, who acted selflessly as they braved the thick smoke and debris to lend a hand? The fact is the health and life expectancy of the 9/11 first responders, and of those who stayed to help, is in jeopardy.
Airborne dust created from the falling towers carried for miles. The local residents had to be evacuated, their domiciles and offices tested, cleaned and rendered safe before they could return. Yet there is some skepticism about the thoroughness of those tests.
The kicker is that the dust contained high levels of toxic substances, including asbestos. Asbestos exposure can cause asbestos cancer, and is the primary cause of mesothelioma.
The EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency, most likely rushed due to the magnitude of the tragedy and the general unpreparedness for such an event, told rescue workers, volunteers, and residents that the air was safe. Later tests revealed this was not true.
The most unfortunate fact was that the rescue workers were not given appropriate safety gear. Even though only the lower portion of the World Trade Center contained asbestos, the devastation created a cloud of toxic dust. Those brave workers, volunteers, and residents close by breathed in this dust for many days, resulting in significant asbestos exposure.
Resulting Illnesses
The result is that everyone exposed has the potential to contract some type of illness, primarily upper respiratory. There are multiple cases of chronic cough, now termed WTC Cough by health professionals and others, asthma where there was no asthma before, and serious allergy type symptoms. A 2006 study performed by Mount Sinai hospital showed approximately 70% of the 10,000 people tested experienced a significant increase in upper respiratory issues. One doctor stated that some samples of the dust “were as toxic as drain cleaner.” The conclusion of the study was that there would be resulting illnesses for years to come.
One of the most frightening illnesses that has already appeared is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is cancerous tissue that forms around the organs caused from asbestos exposure. Other major issues from 9/11 are asbestos lung cancer, and asbestosis, a non-cancerous lung disease also caused by asbestos exposure.
Typically the latency period of mesothelioma is 20 to 30 years, meaning there are many more potential victims out there. But there are already victims who were reported to die from mesothelioma. The first was a FDNY EMS paramedic, Deborah Reeve. Deborah developed symptoms in 2003, was diagnosed in 2004, and passed away in March, 2006. She was 41 years old.
Government Response
The government set aside $90 million to monitor the health of the workers who were at Ground Zero. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a program to extend health resources to those impacted by the disaster. However, neither program is expected to last long-term, leaving those who will potentially develop asbestos cancer, including mesothelioma, out in the cold.
What Next?
Obviously this is a story in its early phase. Thousands of people were physically impacted by the weeks of toxic dust that swirled around Ground Zero. The best thing to do if you were exposed to asbestos is to make sure your physician is aware, pay close attention to your symptoms, particularly upper respiratory, and stay on top of your medical care and treatment.