Recent reports reveal that survivors of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center are at an increased risk for diseases ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder to asthma, cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, and much more. Health experts expect that the true extent of the harm from the toxic dust and smoke released when the towers collapsed will not be known for many years to come.

NYC Health Crisis - Illnesses that Continue to Haunt 9/11 Survivors

Six years after the attacks on the World Trade Center there is still a great deal that is unknown about the increased rates of respiratory illness and related cancers in 9/11 survivors. The numbers are staggering. There are currently 71,000 registrants in The World Trade Center Health Registry, many of whom suffer from a variety of ailments that are believed to be the result of inhaling the toxic dust and smoke released during the fateful attacks on the World Trade Center.

The diseases resulting from the attacks are frightening and wide-ranging – everything from post-traumatic stress disorder to respiratory illness, pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, cardiovascular disease, asthma, heartburn, throat irritation, acid reflux, shortness of breath, interstitial lung disease, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and an increased risk for cancer. Many health experts expect that the true impact of the 9/11 attacks will continue to be felt for the next 20 to 30 years, as those present for the attacks and the resulting clean-up continue to develop health problems.

Consider recent findings related to a few of these illnesses:

  • Asthma: A recent study by the New York City Department of Health revealed that Ground Zero workers are developing asthma at a rate twelve times that of the general population. Most affected are individuals who were caught in the initial dust cloud or who did not wear a mask.

  • Mesothelioma / Asbestosis: These diseases are caused by exposure to asbestos fibers, which were released when the World Trade Center collapsed. What concerns researchers is that an increased risk for diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis may not become obvious many more years.

  • Low Lung Capacity: The Mount Sinai WTC Medical Monitoring Program found that non-smokers affected by the WTC disaster were five times more likely than the general population to experience reduced lung capacity. Responders who arrived early to the WTC site were most greatly affected.

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): According to the NYC Health Department’s WTC health registry survey results, 12.5% of WTC workers have post-traumatic stress disorder compared to 4% of the general population. Individuals in non-emergency occupations are most affected by PTSD, with trained emergency responders being somewhat less affected.

  • Blood Cell Cancers: Researchers at Mount Sinai speculate that the future holds an increase in blood cell cancers for Ground Zero workers, due to inhalation of the toxic dust and airborne pollutants at the WTC site.


    • The bottom line is that many researchers believe that the true impact of the 9/11 fallout will not be known for many years to come – what new diseases will become evident among WTC survivors, and how will the health of the men and women who risked everything to save lives be affected? With millions of dollars already paid out to survivors – and millions, even billions more expected to be paid out over the coming years, it is clear that the future holds more grim news for the brave survivors of the 9/11 attacks.

    The law firm of Napoli Bern is committed to helping America’s heroes recover from injury and ailments resulting from the attacks of 9/11. If the life and health of you or someone you love has been negatively affected by the World Trade Center collapse, Napoli Bern wants to review your case at absolutely no cost to you.
©2008 Napoli Bern LLP, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission
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