Following the horrific collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001, a region of several square miles surrounding the site was blanketed by a cloud of dust - the pulverized remains of the disintegrated towers. An estimated 1 million tons of this noxious dust blew south over Brooklyn and Staten Island and seeped through windows and ventilation ducts in thousands of buildings in Lower Manhattan.

Tests conducted by Deutsche Bank shortly after the terrorist attacks revealed significant levels of asbestos and heavy metals in the dust. Before the month of September was over, the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) reported that the dust bore alkalinity levels as powerful as household drainer cleaner. Yet, it would be several months before the public was made aware of this critical information.

EPA: "Air is Safe to Breathe"

Within 10 days of the attacks, the EPA issued five press releases assuring the public that the air was safe to breathe, despite an absence of data to support such assurances. In an official statement issued on September 18, EPA Administrator Christie Todd Whitman announced: "I am glad to reassure the people of New York ... that their air is safe to breathe and their water is safe to drink."

Officials had many reasons to encourage a quick return to work. The nation was paralyzed in the days following the attack, and government leaders felt a need to show the world that the country would not be intimidated by terrorism. In addition, Wall Street remained closed in the days following the tragedy, and leaders were fearful of the long-term repercussions for investors and the U.S. economy if the markets didn't quickly return to business as usual.

With fires still smoldering in the rubble from the towers and thousands of bodies still buried under the debris, New Yorkers were understandably hesitant to resume their normal routines. Despite that fact, most of lower Manhattan and Wall Street reopened for business within just days of the attacks. Tens of thousands of workers and residents returned to their offices and homes, even though the asbestos-laden dust had yet to be removed from carpeting, desktops and ventilation systems in many of those buildings.

For months after 9/11, the EPA continued to insist that the dust contained few contaminants and posed little health risk. Similar reassurances were issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Health.

However, reality told a far different story. In the months following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the prevalence of respiratory problems and other illnesses experienced by those living or working near Ground Zero became too great to ignore.

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:

• September 11th and mesothelioma
• September 11th and asbestos
• September 11th Health issues