According to the WTC Health Program / September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, more than 9,000 people have since died, while many more continue to suffer from illnesses linked to their exposure to the debris and dust, including asbestos, that fell over Lower Manhattan. Illnesses that ranged from cancers such as lung cancer, Mesothelioma, and Leukemia to conditions such as COPD, GERD, RADS, Asthma and more. And to this very day, 25 years later, additional conditions are still being studied for potential links to 9/11 exposure, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and dementia.
A Toll Still Being Counted
The FDNY has been particularly afflicted by 9/11 exposure-related illnesses, a report this month found that more than 600 department members have died from World Trade Center-related illnesses since 2001, already having lost 343 firefighters on the day itself. Across all responders and survivors, the WTC Health Program has now certified roughly 57,000 cancer diagnoses as linked to the attacks and exposure afterwards, and it was caring for more than 145,000 people as of this summer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention itself estimates that roughly 400,000 people were exposed in total.
The day and the weeks since were also a tragedy for many Polish-Americans. Among those killed were at least six people born in Poland, with some community organizations placing the number higher when including victims of Polish ancestry. Their memory is honored by a plaque at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church in Manhattan. Among the tens of thousands who later fell ill, Polish immigrants working in construction were also part of the crews that cleared debris at Ground Zero in the months after the attacks. Tragically, just as with many first responders and those that helped rebuild the city, many later developed illnesses tied to the toxic dust and sought compensation through the federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.
New Documents That Lead to More Questions
The absolute scale of the tragedy is still not fully understood, however this week’s release of more than 170,000 pages of city documents on air quality and health risks after 9/11 continues to paint the picture and hopefully offers both assistance and closure to those that have suffered so much after exemplifying the absolute best of humanity in being the first to respond to the attacks. We will continue to read through the documents as they are released.
In the meantime, anyone who lived, worked, or attended school in Lower Manhattan between 2001 and 2002, and now struggles with a related illness may still be eligible to enroll in the federal WTC Health Program.
