For the next three months I will be measuring certain effects of the September 11 attacks on New York City. More specifically I plan to research the mounting health issues that are affecting thousands of Ground Zero rescuers and workers.

The September 11th attacks have had and continue to have profound effects upon everyone’s lives –- no matter where one calls “home”. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost on September 11, 2001, and an estimated 2,750 of them resulting form the World Trade Center and 87 and 60 lives from Flights 11 and 175, respectively. It has been reported that more than 90 countries lost citizens in the attacks on the World Trade Center.

The scope of the chronic and tragic health issues effecting ground zero workers is massive and extends beyond ground zero and the surrounding tri-state area. The effects of the attacks on New York City have reverberated throughout the United States, and have continued throughout the rest of the world, as the economy has suffered a historic downfall nearly on the verge of demise, social and political issues (racism, hate crimes, a War on Terror, etc.) have fueled on and all the while those who are working to patch up the tragedy are the ones suffering the most. Health issues began right after the attacks and have continued up to this very day. Environmental action is necessary and it must happen now. In addition to health issues affecting the workers at ground zero, numerous people have dealt with cumbersome health issues in the wake of the attacks. The dust from the collapsed towers was “wildly toxic”, according to air pollution expert and University of California Davis Professor Emeritus Thomas Cahill who studied the air quality at Ground Zero. Professor T. Cahill further stated that, "The EPA said there was no danger, but this was the perfect storm of environmental toxins, and now we're paying the price, it was wildly toxic, and the EPA knew that. Hopefully, this will lead to a renewed effort not to forget these people."[1] “These people”, consist of an estimated 40,000 workers, including immigrant day laborers, contractors, volunteers from other areas, paramedics, firefighters and police officers. They all carried out myriad tasks, which ranged from digging through rubble in search of survivors and remains to deliver water. It is uncertain how many may now or will be sick.[2]

Thousands upon thousands of toxic debris resulting from the collapse of the Twin Towers consisted of more than 2,500 contaminants. Many of the dispersed substances (asbestos, lead, mercury, crystalline silica, cadmium, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, etc.) are carcinogenic and can cause heart, liver and kidney failure as well as nervous system deterioration. This was reportedly all well known by the EPA at the time of the collapse. All of this pollution and toxicity has led to numerous debilitating illnesses among rescue and recovery workers. Increasing numbers of cases are appearing and the health effects are extending to some residents, students, and office workers of Lower Manhattan and Chinatown. (Cite: Sierra Club Report) The scope of the issue is devastatingly widespread and will continue to be a pervasive problem until greater advocacy, attention and acts of resolve are conducted.

In addition to my focal studies I also plan on addressing and analyzing the effects that the attacks have had and continue to have upon the physical and socio-economic structure of Ground Zero and its surrounding neighborhoods (Battery Park City, New York Stock Exchange, TriBeCa).

The basis for my forthcoming blogs will be greatly derived from the interviews I plan to conduct each week. At this point in time I plan to first try and get in contact with the congresswoman and several senators who attempted to pass litigation on behalf of the ground zero workers, but failed. I will also strive to make contacts with two non-profit organizations whose focal missions are dedicated to advocacy and grassroots activism. In addition to establishing these contacts I believe that my most important research will derive from future discussions with affected rescuers and workers of Ground Zero; a FDNY firehouse, police precinct, and hospital all within the vicinity of Ground Zero; reporters who have touched on this issue; Doctors; Medical Examiners, etc. It is in these interviews and discussions where the personal stories will come about, and it is in those where advocacy, passion, and connections are found.

USGS site for further information and images of the WTC smoke plume: pubs.usgs.gov/of/2001/ ofr-01-0429/dustplume.html

[1] Armour, Stephanie. “Health Troubles Persist for 9/11 Rescue Workers.” (6/25/2006) http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2006-06-25-911-health-usat_x.htm

[2]Armour, Stephanie. “Health Troubles Persist for 9/11 Rescue Workers.” (6/25/2006) http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2006-06-25-911-health-usat_x.htm