9/11 Asbestos Exposure Compensation

Asbestos exposure and 9/11: Cause, health effects, &resources

Those living and working in New York City on September 11, 2001, will never forget the cloud of dust and debris that blanketed the city.

The day turned into night over much of New York City. In that cloud of dust and debris were an array of pollutants and carcinogenic particles, including lead, mercury, dioxins, benzene, and asbestos.

The Twin Towers began construction on August 5, 1966, when asbestos was considered to be a safe and effective fire retardant and insulator at the time. It was only about the same time as the commencement of construction of the Twin Towers that asbestos was linked to adverse public health impacts, including lung disease and mesothelioma. It remained legal and in use in construction. Even in 2001, not all Americans realized that cancer could be linked to asbestos exposure. 

The Twin Towers’ asbestos was the last thing on anyone's mind during 9/11.

When stable and undisturbed, asbestos is harmless, but when the towers crumbled, it broke apart the millions of sharp fibers, and sent them into the open New York air.

Estimates are that there were 300 - 400 tons of asbestos in the North Tower alone. It stands to reason that the total asbestos in the twin towers was around double that estimate. 

So much asbestos was in the dust cloud on 9/11 that the EPA estimated around 25% of bulk dust samples had a troublesome amount of asbestos. 

How much asbestos exposure is dangerous? The EPA’s standards consider anything more than 1% to be troublesome, yet seven samples had between 2.1% and 3.3%.

Who was at risk of asbestos exposure on 9/11?

Based on the EEPA's estimates, anyone in the impact zone could have had some asbestos exposure. First responders and clean-up crews are at the highest risk of asbestos exposure, although others in the exposure zone, like residents and office workers, could have also been exposed.

Tragically, too many brave men and women have suffered the adverse effects of asbestos exposure post 9/11. Notable examples of harm to first responders include:

• Emergency Medical Technicians - Many high-profile stories have come to light of EMTs both getting sick and dying from cancers related to 9/11 asbestos exposure. Cancers developing in the ovaries, gallbladder, lungs, and other areas have affected these victims.
• Police officers - CBS reported that 15 police officers died from 9/11 related cancer in 2018 alone.
• Firefighters - Research has linked firefighters that responded to 9/11 with a higher risk of cancers like multiple myeloma. Additionally, it was shown that these cancers develop earlier than average.
• Clean-up Crews - Scientific American reported that the towers burned for two months after they came down. Clean-up crews risked long-term exposure to asbestos and other chemicals.
• Paramedics - Hundreds of paramedics rushed to help survivors on 9/11 and inhaled the dangerous dust.

Health risks and symptoms of asbestos exposure

The fracturing of asbestos fibers creates tiny fibers that are often released into the air. When breathed in, these fibers get trapped in the lungs, where they can remain for a long time. As the fibers continue to accumulate, they can cause scarring and inflammation. In turn, this can lead to serious health problems and affect breathing.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has classified asbestos as a human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have made the same classification. There is sufficient evidence that asbestos causes mesothelioma, which is a somewhat rare cancer of thin membranes lining the chest and abdomen, according to the IARC. 

The IARC also identifies asbestos exposure as a cause of lung, larynx, and ovary cancers. It is thought that asbestos exposure is the primary cause of most mesotheliomas. Additionally, there is some evidence linking asbestos exposure to increased risks of colorectal, pharynx, and stomach cancers.

Respiratory diseases are also linked to asbestos exposure, increasing the risk of asbestosis. This inflammatory condition affects the lungs and can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and permanent lung damage. The risk of other disorders, nonmalignant and pleural (the thin membranes that line the lungs and chest) disorders, may also be increased. Pleural disorders include pleural plaques, pleural thickening, and benign pleural effusions. Evidence does suggest that pleural disease from asbestos exposure may increase the risk for lung cancer.

Recovering compensation for 9/11-related asbestos exposure 

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that almost 9,000 first responders had developed cancer of some form since 9/11.

Deaths from toxic exposure are in the hundreds, and sadly, more are expected over the coming decades due to the long mesothelioma latency period. 

What is the latency period from first exposure to asbestos to contracting mesothelioma? Recent data from The Mesothelioma Center indicates Mesothelioma can take up to 50 years to develop after initial asbestos exposure. 

This health crisis has prompted the creation of several federal and state programs to help those that get sick from 9/11 related illnesses. Some programs helping 9/11 first responders include the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund.The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP)

The World Trade Center Health Program offers counseling and medical treatment for certain 9/11-caused illnesses. Medical experts have stated that cancer afflicts 8,000 of the 72,000 people enrolled in the program.

The WTC Health Program is a federal program administered by the CDC that covers anyone with certain 9/11 related health conditions that were responders to any of the three attack sites. 

Additionally, the program covers survivors that lived, worked, went to school, or were at an adult care center or child care center in the NYC Disaster Area in the days after 9/11. Anyone in the 911 toxic dust cloud is also covered.

Certification from the WTC Health Program is required to receive compensation from the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

Discuss your 9/11 asbestos exposure claim with a VCF attorney today

Asbestos exposure from the WTC exposure zone puts all those present at risk of associated cancers and respiratory health issues that can arise over decades from the initial exposure. The diseases associated with asbestos exposure are serious and can have tragic consequences.

Those exposed to asbestos at Ground Zero or the Fresh Kills Landfill, the morgue, the barges, and the piers have help available when and if 9/11 related illnesses due to exposure might manifest themselves.

Those harmed by 911 asbestos exposure deserve the utmost care and respect for their services in such a time of need. Compassion and care are the top priorities at Cannata, Hendele & Cannata.

The partners of our firm, Cannata, Hendele & Cannata, were appointed by the court to serve as the lead counsel in World Trade Center litigation suing hundreds of defendants responsible for illnesses sustained in the aftermath of 9/11. 

We also proudly have served first responders, clean-up workers, construction workers, residents, office workers and others since 2003 before the Fund, and have helped more than 2,000 people receive hundreds of millions of dollars as compensation for their 9/11-related cancers and other illnesses. 

We also fought in Washington to get the Fund renewed and change its policies so that hundreds of thousands more people were eligible for compensation. We were instrumental in a major  policy change convincing the Fund they were misinterpreting the Congressional Act. This opened up the Fund to many more people that would have been excluded.

If you've been diagnosed with a 9/11-related illness or cancer due to asbestos exposure on or after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, we can help. 

Call 1-888-982-8428 or complete the online evaluation form today to discuss your asbestos exposure claim with an experienced VCF lawyer at Cannata, Hendele & Cannata.