Nevertheless, we are now beginning to understand the long-term effects of responding to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Increased rates of some cancers in some responders may also be associated with heightened surveillance rather than an increase in disease. So we cannot make direct links between exposure at the World Trade Center site, length of time there, and the risk of illness.ĭifferences in age, sex, ethnicity, smoking status and other factors between responders and non-responders should also be considered.
Our research involved analysing data from existing databases. Health harms of asbestos won't be known for decades Exposure to asbestos and other fibres in the toxic dust may have contributed. This is because mesothelioma (a type of cancer caused by asbestos) usually takes 20-50 years to develop.Īs of 2016, at least 352 responders had been diagnosed with the lung condition asbestosis, and at least 444 had been diagnosed with another lung condition, pulmonary fibrosis. The number of responders with cancers associated with asbestos exposure at the World Trade Center is expected to rise in coming years. This is consistent with previous work noting cognitive impairment among responders occurs at about twice the rate of people 10-20 years older. Researchers have also found brain scans of some responders indicate the onset of early-stage dementia. Almost half of all responders report they need ongoing mental health care for a range of mental health issues including PTSD, anxiety, depression and survivor guilt.ĩ/11 anniversary: a watershed for psychological response to disasters Firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center on the morning of the attacks were 44% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those who arrived the next day.Īir pollution causes cancer, so let's do something about itĪbout 15-20% of responders are estimated to be living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms - roughly four times the rate of the general population.ĭespite 20 years having passed, PTSD is a growing problem for responders. There may also be a significant link between greater exposure at the World Trade Center and a higher risk of long-term cardiovascular disease (disease affecting the heart and blood vessels). This increased inflammation may eventually lead to prostate cancer.
#Emergency 20 years series#
Inhaling the toxic dust at the World Trade Center site may trigger a cascading series of cellular events, increasing the number of inflammatory T-cells (a type of immune cell) in some of the responders. Although this fits with the age profile of many of the health program’s participants, some responders are developing an aggressive, fast-growing form of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is also common, increasing 181% since 2016. And acute myeloid leukaemia is one of the main types of leukaemia reported not only by responders, but by residents of lower Manhattan, who also have higher-than-normal rates.
Benzene is found in jet fuel, one of the toxic exposures at the World Trade Center. There is a proven link between benzene exposure and acute myeloid leukaemia.
This equates to an increase of 175% in leukaemia cases over a five-year period, which is not surprising. More than 16,000 responders have enrolled in the past five years.Ĭancer is up 185% over the past five years, with leukaemia emerging as particularly common, overtaking colon and bladder cancer in the rankings. The number of responders enrolling in the health program with emerging health issues rises each year. How the pain of 9/11 still stays with a generation Respiratory and upper digestive tract disorders are the number one cause of death (34%), ahead of cancer (30%) and mental health issues (15%).ĭeaths attributed to these three factors, as well as musculoskeletal and acute traumatic injuries, have increased six-fold since the start of 2016.
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