9/11 First Responders Risk of Toxic Exposure; Including Asbestos
On September 11, 2001, 2,753 people lost their lives from the deadly attacks on the United States of America. Over the following two decades, hundreds of thousands more would be added to the death toll from the long term effects of exposure to toxic dust released into the air at the World Trade Center. While some immediately lost their lives, others are still living in fear that being on the scene that day could eventually claim theirs as well.
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In terms of death rate, Louisiana had 5.9 asbestos-related deaths per 100,000 population during the 1999-2017 period. (Higher than the national average death rate of 4.9.)
9/11 First Responders have a higher risk of developing cancer because of their exposure.
After 9/11, air may not have been as safe to breathe as claimed by authorities.
First responders who were at Ground Zero are at a 9% higher risk of developing cancer than the rest of society. Among burning jet fuel, plastics, metal, and fiberglass, asbestos was also present – and it was no small amount. There were between three- to four-hundred tons of asbestos used in the early construction of the North Tower, before the United States ended legal manufacturing of the hazardous fiber in building materials. When subjected to high heat during the terrorist attack, the toxic particles were sent airborne.
Asbestos fibers that become airborne are easily inhaled and ingested, and can cause cancer and other asbestos-related diseases many years later.
Airborne asbestos is the most lethal form. First responders, victims, and witnesses alike were exposed to the lethal residue in the air. Inhaling and ingesting asbestos are the two most common ways that a human can develop asbestos-related diseases, like asthma, emphysema and even mesothelioma, among other cancers. Along with this concern, the cloud of dust contained toxic metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium.
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
A large percentage of first responders at 9/11 developed a chronic cough shortly after the attack. It didn’t just come and go. The cough lasted for weeks, unrelenting. Finally subsiding over the course of weeks and months, unbeknownst to them at the time, the rescue workers were not in the clear. In 2007, seven out of ten first responders faced far worse respiratory issues, including COPD, and there is likely more trouble to come. It can take many years for asbestos exposure to develop into cancers.
Mesothelioma risk for 9/11 First Responders (and others exposed at the World Trade Center)
Mesothelioma is a rare and life-threatening type of cancer, which, among other chronic diseases, some 9/11 first responders have already developed. By the end of 2015, it was estimated that more people had lost their lives due to the events of 9/11 than were killed in the actual terrorist attack that day. Recent research also suggests that 9/11 first responders are developing many other types of cancer at alarming rates, far higher than the general public. These include leukemia, prostate and thyroid cancer.
A mesothelioma diagnosis is difficult, and medical costs can be expensive.
Mesothelioma is both severe and aggressive. Tumors form in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart, and symptoms include shortness of breath, a dry cough, chest pains, and even seizures. Like most other forms of cancer, treatment options are costly, and can include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Those who paid the ultimate price of putting their lives on the line all those years ago are once again fighting for their lives.
Fortunately, compensation is sometimes available for asbestos illnesses.
First responders’ bravery should be rewarded with help for the injuries they sustained while assisting those who were injured. The strength and courage that rescue workers exhibited on that day is unmatched. The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) was founded to do just that.
The Sept 11th Victim Compensation Fund
It provides financial compensation to any individual, or family members of an individual, who suffered physical harm or was killed by the debris removal efforts that took place in the aftermath of the attacks. The VCF Permanent Authorization Act extends the VCF’s original claim filing deadline to October 1, 2090, so that appropriate funds are available to victims who have not yet developed cancer or a chronic illness but may at some point in their lifetimes.
With asbestos-related diseases, early intervention is key.
Asbestos diseases have a long latency, meaning they can take 20-50 years to appear.
Anyone exposed to the dust and debris from the 9/11 terrorist attacks should speak with their healthcare provider about respiratory testing and imaging that can help detect asbestos damage. Early intervention is critical to a successful outcome, and unfortunately, the EPA originally told the public that the plume was not harmful in the days following the attack, robbing anyone exposed of the precious time they had to get tested. Those who are symptomatic should check in with their provider as soon as possible.
If your lungs have been damaged by asbestos exposure, your doctor may recommend treatments to help you breathe easier, such as oxygen therapy. If you were in New York City during 9/11 and are considering medical attention, you may want to check out the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and make a claim to have your healthcare costs covered.
Sources
“Malignant Mesothelioma: Types, Symptoms & Prognosis.” Pleural Mesothelioma Center: Giving Mesothelioma Cancer Patients Hope, https://www.pleuralmesothelioma.com/cancer.
Smith, E., Holmes, L., & Larkin, B. (2021). Health Trends among 9/11 Responders from 2011–2021: A Review of World Trade Center Health Program Statistics. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 36(5), 621-626. doi:10.1017/S1049023X21000881
“September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.” The United States Department of Justice, 3 May 2022, https://www.justice.gov/civil/vcf.