On September 11, 2001, the world watched, shocked and horrified, as terrorists hijacked and crashed four commercial jetliners in a carefully coordinated attack on the United States. The first two planes hit the two World Trade Center towers, while another targeted the Pentagon. An attempt to crash a fourth plane into the U.S. Capitol was thwarted by passengers before it crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, killing everyone on board.

While a tragic loss of life occurred in all four incidents, the devastation and destruction at the World Trade Center reached catastrophic proportions. In the end, 2,992 lives were reported to have been lost on 9/11. But that number doesn't account for the health crisis and toll on human life that unfolded in the months and years following the attack.

Asbestos Exposure Affects Thousands After 9/11

When construction began on the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1968, workers fireproofed the buildings with a sprayed-on slurry mixture of asbestos and cement. The New York City Council banned this practice in 1971, and some attempts at removal and abatement of asbestos followed. Unfortunately, hundreds of tons of the material had already been applied, and most of it remained in place prior to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Forty-thousand emergency workers who responded to the scene at Ground Zero were exposed to toxic substances in the air, including high levels of asbestos. Thousands of others--residents, students, and office workers--were also exposed to the deadly fallout. In many parts of Lower Manhattan, asbestos levels measured higher than those found in Libby, Montana--the well-known site of one of the worst cases of asbestos contamination in U.S. history.

Despite early assurances that the air at Ground Zero was safe, 62% of the people caught in the dust cloud after the collapse suffered ongoing respiratory problems, according to an April 2006 report by the Centers for Disease Control. Another 46% of those who lived or worked in the area but didn't come in contact with the dust cloud also experienced consistent respiratory ailments.

Although the early reports of asbestos-related illnesses are alarming, the true extent of the post-9/11 health crisis may not be known for decades. Many asbestos-related diseases - such as mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer - are typically not discovered until 10 to 40 years after exposure.

If you are experiencing breathing problems following exposure to the air at Ground Zero and the surrounding area, or if you are experiencing any other symptoms related to mesothelioma cancer, you may wish to visit the Mesothelioma Diagnosis Support Center.

For more information on this topic:

• Ground Zero NY
• September 11th Health Issues