On September 11, 2001, New York City’s police officers, fire fighters, and other first responders carried out one of the most heroic missions in U.S. history. They entered into a black cloud of toxins and dust without a thought for themselves, concerned only about the welfare of those that could be saved following the nightmarish terrorist attack.
Unfortunately for many of these first responders, the impact of these attacks continues today in the form of debilitating respiratory illnesses such as mesothelioma. Many of the conditions being diagnosed in the 9/11 first responders can be linked to asbestos that was prevalent in the air on the day of the attacks and for some time afterward. Some studies show that as many as 70 percent of the World Trade Center rescue workers suffer from some type of respiratory ailment.
Currently, a group is fighting to secure government aid for those workers that have been affected. They are proposing legislation in Congress and New York’s City Council that would provide full medical coverage for all World Trade Center attack first responders. The current government aid that is available is confusing and incomplete according to some.
There are also many private organizations such as The 9/11 Police Aid Foundation collecting donations to help support responders that are suffering from 9/11-related diseases, such as mesothelioma. To learn more about government aid, legislation, and health conditions related to the World Trade Center attacks, please visit Families of September 11.
Tags: asbestos, mesothelioma
