Tomorrow marks the thirteenth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, NY. While the events that unfolded affected many individuals across the country, some of those present in the city that day are still struggling with severe respiratory illnesses caused by the dust and debris of the towers’ collapse.
Twenty stories of the World Trade Center twin towers were constructed with asbestos materials. It is estimated that 400 tons of “ultra-fine” asbestos fibers were released into the air when the buildings finally collapsed.
This national tragedy resulted in asbestos exposure for many different kinds of individuals in Lower Manhattan:
While most patients diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestosis develop their diseases over a long period of time due to prolonged exposure, it took less than two years for first responder, Deborah Reeve to die of mesothelioma following her work on 9/11. Nearly 70% of recovery personnel have suffered from respiratory problems since the attacks.
Despite all of this, asbestos is still not banned in the United States. Can you believe it?
Were you or a loved one affected by the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in any way? Please share your story with us in a comment below and reach out to learn more about how you could have been effected!
