In seeking to understand the onslaught of chronic and terminal illnesses that are plaguing the Ground Zero rescue workers it is most essential to first survey the environment – which has been described by the many rescuers I have spoken to as “a gruesome crime scene”, “hell on earth” and “World War III”  - that they voluntarily subjected themselves to out of heroism for anywhere from 72 hours straight to over 1,000 hours.  The World Trade Center towers were built from 1968 to 1972.  At this point in time fireproofing material for buildings contained a mixture of cement and asbestos thus hundreds of tons of the material used for the construction of the twin towers was covered with this toxic materials.  The cocktail of chemicals and toxins was discussed in greater detail in my previous entry: http://www.onearth.org/node/1467.  

In my first blog I also made a point to emphasize the interview and discussions that will be the basis for my forthcoming blogs.  As anticipated, in making connections with those involved with and effected by the aftermath of Ground Zero, personal stories and vivid accounts have abounded.  

I want to give life and a face to each story.  In doing so connect all of the accounts, personalities and faces to create a synthesized and passionate illustration of the devastating health issues affecting the rescue workers.   

 In my first series of discussions I spoke with two New York Police officers who have become friends of mine.  In our conversations they discussed their recollection of that historic day (9/11/2001), what they experienced during their time at Ground Zero, and where there are now.  I believe their accounts provide insight into what the environment of Ground Zero was like and how although they have yet to acquire terminal illnesses their chronic medical issues affect them every day of their lives.

These are their stories:

NAME: GARY MARINO

OCCUPATION: NYPD Officer, retired.

Health issues to date: None.

Gary Marino got to Ground Zero about a week after the attacks.  He was always on the perimeter of the block working as security. 

Marino’s most vivid memory from his time at Ground Zero is the odor.  “The smell of jet fuel.  It stunk, it was just awful, horrible.  It was just this massive pile that was smoldering for a very long time.  I will never forget the smell.”  He also remembers noticing what he thought were snowflakes coating his jacket, his head, shoes, the ground, everywhere.  A fellow officer let him know that it was not snowflakes but ash.  “There was just tons of it, this ash.  Which you had to be breathing in.  That air was definitely not safe.” 

NAME: KEVIN MARTIN

Occupation: NYPD 48th Precinct, Bronx; now retired

Health Issues to Date: Severely deviated septum, chronic sinusitis, and asthma

On September 11 Kevin Martin was at the 48th Precinct in the Bronx.  He was helping out in planning and preparing for the elections when a fellow officer announced that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.  “We all though, oh shit, must have been a little plane.  Then we turned on the TV and watched the second plane go into the buildling.  I saw it was a 747.  It was a terrorist attack.”  

It was around 11 AM when Martin and his fellow officers were rounded up and started to mobilize to go downtown.  “We got there when one of the towers collapsed at 1 PM and we stayed there until September 13th.  From then on we continued going back and forth working at the Precinct and Ground Zero.  Not long after dedicating his time to the Ground Zero rescue efforts, Martin began to have difficulty breathing.  He found out after having X-Rays that he had a severely deviated septum, a serious sinus infection and asthma – all of which he did not have prior to his time at Ground Zero.  These chronic illnesses require him to take two nasal spray inhalers every day in addition to other various forms of medication and treatment.  In addition to his own ailments, Martin has seen and continues to see many of his colleagues coming down with “crazy kinds of cancer, really weird shit”. 

The vivid recollections of both Gary Marino and Kevin Martin are just the tip of the iceberg.  Their stories, although brief and considerably “healthy” in comparison to forthcoming discussion, provide a basis of understanding for the environment, conditions and range of conditional severity in the discussions to come.  They are the rescue workers who are considered “lucky” for not yet having any terminal illnesses, yet being the key word.  What consequences will arise in five, ten, twenty years from now?  I believe that the wake of September 11th’s aftermath has not come close to subsiding.    

For further information from the New York City Police Department regarding 9/11, please check out the "NYC Patrolmen's Benevolent Assocation" website at: http://www.nycpba.org/wtc/index.html 

The site succinctly addresses the health issues and serves as a forum where officers can share information about illnesses and issues related to the World Trade Center and/or request such information.

"Health and Environmental Consequences of the World Trade Center Disaster". Environmental Health Perspectives, May 2004, Vol 112 No. 6: http://nycpba.org/wtc/studies/ehp-may2004.pdf