Yourlawyer.com (World Trade Center Emergency Workers News) http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/world_trade_center_emergency_workers Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:21:17 -0800 pixel-app en 9/11 Ground Zero Responders More Likely To Have Asthma http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/17226 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/17226 Emergency responders who participated in Ground Zero rescue and recovery efforts following the 9/11 terrorist attacks tend to suffer from asthma at about a two-fold rate compared to the rest of the U.S. population, according to a new study detailed by Science Daily.

Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers presented the new asthma data, said Science Daily, at CHEST 2009, which is the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), in San Diego, California.

The study revealed that about eight percent of those workers and volunteers who were part of the World Trade Center (WTC) “rescue and recovery, essential service restoration, and clean-up efforts” underwent what is being described as post-9/11 asthma attacks or episodes, said Science Daily. Asthma is usually only experienced by four percent of the population, half of that experienced by the terror attack workers.

In the hours and days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, thousands of rescue workers descended on Ground Zero to help with recovery efforts. Sifting through dust and rubble, sometimes with their bare hands, many lacked the clothing and equipment that could have kept them safe from harm. Several studies have confirmed that Ground Zero first responders continue to suffer from ill health as a result of their exposure to toxic dust at the site, including lung diseases and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is also known that the chemicals they were exposed to included several carcinogens.

"Although previous WTC studies have shown significant respiratory problems, this is the first study to directly quantify the magnitude of asthma among WTC responders," said Hyun Kim, ScD, Instructor of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM) and lead author of the analysis, quoted Science Daily. "Eight years after 9/11, the WTC Program is still observing responders affected by asthma episodes and attacks at rates more than twice that of people not exposed to WTC dust," added Kim.

The medical records of 20,843 responders who underwent screenings from July 2002 to December 2007, a component of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine-coordinated WTC Program, were reviewed, according to Science Daily. The information was compared against U.S. National Health Survey Interviews adult sample data for 2000 and 2002 to 2007, reported Science Daily. The results indicate that, among the general populace, episode of asthma or asthma attacks in the prior year were comparatively stable: Under four percent from 2000 to 2007, said Science Daily. Conversely, less than one percent of responders reported asthma episodes occurring during 2000; however, eight percent reported episodes from 2005 to 2007, noted Science Daily. WTC responders were 2.3 times likelier to report asthma episodes/attacks in the prior year versus the general U.S. population, said Science Daily. Of note, 86 percent of the workers were men and they worked an average of 80 days at the sites.

"The data show an increasing percentage of responders reporting asthmatic episodes, rising to double that seen in the general population. It is clearly vital that we continue to track responders' health and look further into the medical outcomes of this population," said Philip J. Landrigan, MD, Ethel H. Wise Professor and Chair of MSSM's Department of Preventive Medicine and Principal Investigator of the WTC Program Data and Coordination Center, quoted Science Daily. "Asthma and other chronic lung conditions remain a significant burden for rescue and recovery workers responding to the attacks on the World Trade Center," said Kalpalatha Guntupalli, MD, FCCP President of the American College of Chest Physicians.

To determine eligibility, to enroll, or for more information, WTC responders can call toll-free (888) 702-0630 or visit www.wtcexams.org.

]]> "Jimmy Nolan's Law" Gives Injured 9/11 Heroes More Time to File Claims http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/17012 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/17012 9/11 emergency workers now have more time to file compensation claims.  Earlier this month, New York Governor David  Paterson signed “Jimmy Nolan's Law” which extends the time that 9/11 workers can file claims against the City of New York and private contractors  for injuries resulting from their participation in the World Trade Center rescue, recovery or cleanup operations.

In the hours and days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, thousands of rescue workers descended on Ground Zero to help with recovery efforts. Sifting through dust and rubble, sometimes with their bare hands, many lacked the clothing and equipment that could have kept them safe from harm. Several studies have confirmed that Ground Zero first responders are suffering from ill health as a result of their exposure to toxic dust at the site.

Under current law, injured 9/11 rescue and recovery workers had only 90 days to file claims.  However, thousands of “second wave” 9/11 workers developed health problems long after the 90-day limitations period had expired.  “Jimmy Nolan’s Law” allows eligible workers an additional one-year period to file claims.

The legislation is named after 9/11 victim Jimmy Nolan, a carpenter from Yonkers and father of three.  Following the terrorist attacks, Mr. Nolan slept at the World Trade Center site for three weeks, assisting in the rescue and recovery efforts.  He now suffers from wood and skin allergies, as well as respiratory problems, because of his exposure to toxic dust and debris at Ground Zero.

"Governor Paterson's decision to sign 'Jimmy Nolan's Law' is a significant legislative victory for all Ground Zero rescue and recovery workers," David B. Krangle, an attorney with Parker Waichman Alonso LLP, a Great Neck, NY law firm that has represented injured 9/11 emergency workers, said in a statement.  "This law ensures that these injured heroes will have access to the compensation they deserve."

]]> World Trade Center Rescue Workers May Face Higher Risk of Multiple Myeloma http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/16864 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/16864 Emergency responders who participated in Ground Zero rescue and recovery efforts following the 9/11 terrorist attacks may be at a higher risk of developing multiple myeloma, according to a new study.  According to a report in the Associated Press, the study points to the importance of continued health monitoring for anyone who worked at Ground Zero following the tragedy.

In the hours and days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, thousands of rescue workers descended on Ground Zero to help with recovery efforts. Sifting through dust and rubble, sometimes with their bare hands, many lacked the clothing and equipment that could have kept them safe from harm. Several studies have confirmed that Ground Zero first responders continue to suffer from ill health as a result of their exposure to toxic dust at the site, including lung diseases and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is also known that the  chemicals they were exposed to  included several carcinogens, some of which have been linked to a heightened risk of multiple myeloma.

This latest study, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, looked at 28,252 emergency responders. According to the Associated Press, out of those, eight cases of multiple myeloma were found.  While that's not out of the ordinary (multiple myeloma is one of the most common hematological cancers in the U.S.), the Associated Press said researchers were surprised at the ages of the victims.

Half of those with multiple myeloma were under the age of 45.  According to the Associated Press, the cancer usually hits an older age group, with the  median age of diagnosis in the general public at 71. Based on this, only one person in the under-45 group would be expected to develop multiple myeloma.

According to the Associated Press, one of those who fell ill was caught in the dust cloud on the day of the tragedy, and then worked at Ground Zero for several months.  A second worked for just over 100 days at thee Staten Island landfill where the rubble was sifted.   The other two multiple myeloma victims worked at Ground Zero for 10 and 12 day durations.

The study authors were quick to point out that their research did not find a direct link between exposure to Ground Zero and the cancer, but said people who worked at the site should continue to have their health monitored.

]]> 9/11 Lung Problems Continue http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/16001 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/16001 September 11th responders continue to have lung problems, according to a new study detailed by the Associated Press (AP).  The researchers concluded that many of the September 11th terrorist attack responders continue to suffer from lung problems today, indicating that the toxic dust—a result of the Manhattan attacks—causes so-called “persistent” health issues, said the AP.

The study was conducted by Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Medical Monitoring Program, in which over 3,100 responders were studied between 2004-2007 with repeated assessments performed between mid 2002 and 2004, said the AP. The study appears in today’s edition of the journal CHEST, which is published by the American College of Chest Physicians.

The Daily News noted that most responders involved are police officers, firemen, and construction workers who fell ill after working at the Ground Zero site and who are suffering from ongoing health problems such as asthma, reactive airway disease, and shortness of breath.  According to the AP, over 24 percent of the patients studied suffered from abnormal lung function, down slightly from 28 percent from earlier exams.  “We know people we are following are still sick.  It’s confirming what we’ve been seeing clinically,” said Dr. Jacqueline M. Moline, study co-author, quoted the AP.

The Mount Sinai program has treated over 26,000 patients who were either at the World Trade Center site the day of the terrorist attacks or worked there following the events.  And, while the program was voluntary and does not account for people exposed but not involved in the program, Norman H. Edelman, American Lung Association’s chief medical officer noted that the study is “probably an important finding” regarding such long-term illnesses resulting from the events at Ground Zero, said the AP.  The Daily News pointed out that the study could assist in creating standards for post-September 11th illnesses, something that has been difficult to define.

The AP also reported that Manhattan’s medical examiner just added a man who died in October from cancer and lung disease to the official 9/11 victims’ list, indicating that exposure to the Ground Zero dust cloud was responsible for his illness and subsequent death, said the AP.

Meanwhile, an earlier study conducted by the New York City Health Department confirmed that children exposed to World Trade Center dust are at much higher risk for respiratory problems; in some cases children are twice as likely as their peers to develop asthma.  That survey included 3,100 children enrolled in NY City’s WTC Health Registry and revealed that being caught in the WTC dust cloud immediately following the September 11th attack was the single greatest risk factor for developing respiratory problems.

Also, last year, another study found that those Americans who said they became anxious and stressed after the September 11th terrorist attacks—some from merely watching the collapse of New York’s Twin Towers on television—reported higher rates of heart disease up to three years later, researchers said.

]]> World Trade Center Rescue Workers, Others Still Facing Health Problems http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/15116 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/15116 World Trade Center rescue workers, as well as many others, are still dealing with serious health problems because of their exposure to ground zero.   According to the New York City Health Department study of the World Trade Center Health Registry, enrollees were still plagued with high rates of asthma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and serious psychological problems a late as three years after the attacks.

The World Trade Center Health Registry includes  71,437 rescue and recovery workers, lower Manhattan residents, area workers, commuters and passersby who were in the vicinity of Ground Zero during and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. More than half reported being in the dust cloud from the collapsing World Trade Center towers; 70 percent witnessed a traumatic sight, such as a plane hitting a tower; and 13 percent suffered an injury on 9/11.

According to the Health Department study, two to three years after 9/11, 3 percent of all adult enrollees reported they'd developed new asthma, 16 percent had PTSD, and 8 percent had severe psychological distress. The highest rate of asthma - 6 percent - was reported among people who worked on the debris pile.  AT least 35 percent of those who sustained injuries the day of the attack suffered from PTSD.  Overall, minorities, people with low incomes, and women experienced higher rates of mental and physical problems.

The study also found that 3 percent of Lower Manhattan adult residents and workers had developed asthma in the two to three years after 9/11 -- a rate believed to be twice the normal rate of asthma development in that time frame. The asthma rate was 3.7 percent among residents who didn't evacuate on 9/11, 3.6 percent among residents who returned to their homes within two days, and 2 percent among those who didn't return home until December 2001.

Approximately 3.5 percent of downtown workers who returned to their jobs within days of the disaster and 3.6 of passersby who were in Manhattan the morning of the attacks also developed asthma within 2-to-3 years following the tragedy.

The study also found PTSD rates of 20 percent or higher for both residents and workers who couldn't or wouldn't return to lower Manhattan for months after 9/11 and for people who didn't evacuate.

Unfortunately, the World Trade Center Health Registry provides only a small glimpse of the true health toll of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  According to the study authors, the 71,437 people enrolled  represent slightly more than 17 percent of those who are actually eligible for inclusion in the registry.  The study authors wrote that it is estimated that more than 400,000 people were exposed to the World Trade Center disaster.  Based on the registry study, that means as many as  35,000 to 70,000 developed PTSD, and 3,800 to 12,600 people developed asthma as a result of the World Trade Center attacks.

]]> 9/11 Injury Claims Denied by New York City http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/14659 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/14659 first responders - say the city is twisting the nature of the injury claims.

In the hours and days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, thousands of rescue workers descended on Ground Zero to help with recovery efforts. Sifting through dust and rubble, sometimes with their bare hands, many lacked the clothing and equipment that could have kept them safe from harm. Several studies have confirmed that Ground Zero first responders are suffering from ill health as a result of their exposure to toxic dust at the site. Released last May, the initial findings of a three-year study conducted by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of the 9,000 WTC first responders examined, 70-percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems. Another report released by the FDNY that same month reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who were first responders at Ground Zero. And the New York City Department of Health also found that one in eight first responders still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Faced with daunting medical bills, and often too disabled to work, thousands of World Trade Center rescue workers have had no choice but to sue New York City and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for their injuries.  

Many city residents who were living and working in lower Manhattan the day of the attack and in the weeks following have also reported health problems.  Even children have not been immune.  A report last year found that of 3,100 children enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry; nearly half had developed breathing problems three years after the attack.

But even though the federal government created a $1 billion insurance fund to handle such claims, the city has been aggressive in its attempts to defend 9/11 injury lawsuits.  In a letter to the judge overseeing the cases, lawyers for the city said that 30 percent of claims involved cases in which a specific ailment was not diagnosed. The claims instead describe symptoms, such as a runny nose or sleep problems.

The letter went further, stating that, "This is not to suggest that the remaining 70 percent of plaintiffs are seriously injured," the lawyers wrote. "To the contrary, diagnosable injuries such as sinusitis and acid reflux, are not necessarily serious."  The letter goes on to contend that about 300 claims involve no injury at all.

But  a lawyer for the injured 9/11 rescue workers told the "New York Post" last night that "The city has completely skewed the statistics to argue wrongly that there have not been significant illnesses."

The attorney said that the city is basing its claims on short-form complaints filed by plaintiffs concerned about potential symptoms who wanted to file suit before the statute of limitations runs out.   Some of the plaintiffs, including some who admit they are not ill, are looking for the city to pay for medical testing, he said.

Attorneys for the injured sent their own letter to the judge last month suggesting they work with the city  to categorize injury claims by their severity.

]]> Appeals Court Ruling a Victory for World Trade Center Rescue Workers http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/14105 Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/14105 World Trade Center rescue workers sickened by the toxic dust at Ground Zero will be able to proceed, following an appeals court ruling  limiting New York City's immunity in such lawsuits.  The city had been trying to have the World Trade Center rescue workers' suits dismissed, claiming that because it was responding to the terrorist attacks of  9/11, federal and state laws provided immunity from such lawsuits.  

In the hours and days after 9/11 terrorist attacks, thousands of rescue workers descended on Ground Zero to help with recovery efforts. Sifting through dust and rubble, sometimes with their bare hands, many lacked the clothing and equipment that could have kept them safe from harm. Several studies have confirmed that Ground Zero first responders are suffering from ill health as a result of their exposure to toxic dust at the site. Released last May, the initial findings of a three-year study conducted by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of the 9,000 WTC first responders examined, 70-percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems. Another report released by the FDNY that same month reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who were first responders at Ground Zero. And the New York City Department of Health also found that one in eight first responders still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Faced with daunting medical bills, and often too disabled to work, thousands of World Trade Center rescue workers have had no choice but to sue New York City and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for their injuries.  Lawyers for those entities had asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to give them immunity from nearly 8,000 workers' claims. The city was appealing a 2006 decision by the United States District Court in Manhattan that ruled it might only have partial immunity in regards to World Trade Center rescue worker lawsuits.

According to The New York Times, the 2nd Circuit ruled against the city, having determined that many of the immunity claims raised by the city were so complex that they could only be resolved by further litigation. A lawyer representing many of the World Trade Center rescue workers told the Times the ruling was a tremendous victory for his clients.  He said that if the cases go to trial, workers would be able to show that the city did not take proper precautions to protect them from hazardous dust.

The city has not yet said if it would appeal the ruling to the US Supreme Court, and according to The New York Times, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and advocates for the World Trade Center rescue workers have asked Congress to reopen the Sept. 11 Victims Compensation Fund to compensate injured workers in lieu of the litigation.

]]> 9/11 Attacks Linked to Higher Rates of Heart Disease http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13638 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13638 first responders or attack survivors, most of the nearly 2,000 people randomly selected nationwide for the study had no direct connection to September 11th.  Research revealed that before September 11th, about 22 percent of the participants reported they had heart ailments; three years after the attacks, about 31 percent said they had developed heart problems.  Those who said they were acutely stressed by the attacks were more than twice as likely to have high blood pressure one year after the attacks and more than three times as likely to have heart problems two years later, according to the study reported in January's issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur after experiencing a traumatic event.  Strong emotions caused by the event create changes in the brain that may result in PTSD.  While most people who experience trauma have some symptoms early on, only some will develop PTSD.

The findings document the physical consequences of stress, especially from watching upsetting events on television, said lead researcher Alison Holman of the University of California-Irvine.  About two-thirds of the participants watched the September 11th attacks on live television.  "Seeing something as stressful as that on television is a very important thing to consider," Holman said. "You don't necessarily have to be in the (World Trade Center) Towers or in the Pentagon to be at risk for other problems."  The study reported increased heart disease rates even after taking into account other factors that could cause similar ailments, such as smoking and diabetes.

Steven Woloshin, a physician at the VA Medical Center in Vermont, said the findings were problematic given that those who report their own medical problems may exaggerate them, adding that participants are more likely to develop heart problems as they age.  "I don't think they've proven anything," he said. "There are millions of things that cause heart problems."

Holman and her colleagues used online surveys for their research; participants were not examined or interviewed beyond the surveys.  Most had completed a health survey before the September 11th attacks.  Researchers asked participants whether they experienced anxiety, had flashbacks or worried about terrorism after the September 11th attacks.  During follow-up surveys for three years after the attacks, participants were asked whether doctors had diagnosed them—for either the first time or with worsening cases—of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, and other heart problems.

Psychologist Tom Demaria, who directs a center for bereaved September 11th families at South Nassau Communities Hospital on Long Island, said he helped to counsel a group of about 20,000 people, most of whom didn't live in New York City, in the months following the attacks.  Those interviewed frequently spoke of panic attacks with increased heart rates and tightness in their chests, he said.

]]> Aid to World Trade Center Rescue Workers Axed by CDC http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13520 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13520 World Trade Center rescue workers living outside New York state might not be able to get the healthcare they need, thanks to a decision by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to halt plans for a national 9/11 health program.   The results of the CDC decision could be devastating to the thousands of World Trade Center first responders who left New York state for warmer regions of the country because of health concerns.

In the days after 9/11, thousands of rescue workers descended on Ground Zero to help with recovery efforts. Sifting through dust and rubble, sometimes with their bare hands, many lacked the clothing and equipment that could have kept them safe from harm. Several studies earlier this year confirmed that Ground Zero first responders were suffering from ill health as a result of their exposure to toxic dust at the site. Released in May, the initial findings of a three-year study conducted by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of the 9,000 WTC first responders examined, 70-percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems. Another report released by the FDNY in early May reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who were first responders at Ground Zero. And the New York City Department of Health also found that one in eight first responders still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Similar studies by the New York State Department of Health reached similar conclusions.

Last week, CDC officials said the agency was halting the process of gathering proposals to create a World Trade Center Business Process Center.   The Center would reimburse doctors treating people who traveled to assist in the aftermath of the 2001 attacks on the trade center, as well as first responders who then lived in the New York metropolitan area and later moved away. The program also would gather data about 9/11-related illnesses.  According to Newsday, CDC officials said their decision to stop gathering proposals was prompted by confusion among bidders and cost overruns.  Health officials feared the work could cost as much as $165 million, far more than the $52 million Congress had provided.

At least two New York lawmakers have taken issue with the CDC’s decision. "This is no time to say 'no' to first responders who have now retired and moved to warmer climates for their health," Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said at a news conference on Thursday."This was an unfair, misguided decision." 

Maloney was joined in the news conference by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), who criticized the CDC for scrapping the plan rather than reworking it.  According to Newsday, both lawmakers called the CDC’s reason for killing the Center a “smokescreen”, and asserted that it was the Bush Administration’s intention to kill the World Trade Center Business Process Center before it ever got off the ground.

]]> Toxic World Trade Center Dust Implicate in Childhood Asthma http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13416 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13416 World Trade Center dust has caused the same types of health problems for children who were in the vicinity of the Twin Towers when they collapsed as it did for 9/11 rescue workers.  The New York City Health Department just released results of a survey confirming that children exposed to toxic World Trade Center dust are at much higher risk for respiratory problems; in some cases children are twice as likely as their peers to develop asthma.  The survey included 3,100 children enrolled in NY City's World Trade Center Health Registry and revealed that being caught in the World Trade Center dust cloud immediately following the September 11th attack was the single greatest risk factor for developing respiratory problems.  Half of all children enrolled in the registry developed new or aggravated breathing problems, but those who were caught in the cloud were diagnosed with asthma at double the rate of those who were not.

Created in 2003, the registry tracks physical and mental health problems experienced by downtown residents and workers and Ground Zero rescue and recovery teams; 71,000 people are enrolled in the registry, making it the nation's largest public health registry.  Despite this, officials acknowledge it captures only a fraction of those who were living or working in lower Manhattan at the time of the attacks or those involved in the recovery effort.

According to health officials, factors such as distance from the World Trade Center site at the time of the attacks and the time it took families to evacuate following the attack did not appear to affect a child's asthma rate.  It was being caught in the World Trade Center dust cloud that is the one variable making the difference according to Deputy Health Commissioner Lorna Thorpe.  The study is the first to measure the impact of the terrorist attacks on childhood asthma rates among children who were in lower Manhattan on September 11th.

Today's dust and debris appears to be from construction efforts and not the actual disaster; however, residents complain that although it is different, it is still very bad.

The recent data was gathered in surveys conducted in 2003-2004.  Health officials acknowledge that until they complete follow-up surveys-expected later next year-they cannot confirm higher asthma rates are at least partially the result of parents being more likely to enroll in the registry.  Meanwhile, compared to city figures, the survey's findings mirror the sharp rise in the rate of childhood asthma hospitalizations in lower Manhattan.  Although the number of children in lower Manhattan under age 14 who were hospitalized for asthma is small, lower Manhattan is the only area in the borough where hospitalization rates increased between 1997-2005.  Thorpe feels that results are cause for concern, but the follow-up survey will be better able to confirm if the connection is a coincidence or not.

While the impact on children's mental health appeared to be less severe, signs of trauma were more pronounced in those caught in the dust cloud, according to the study.  Three-percent of the children enrolled in the registry showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome, a lower figure than a study conducted last year by Columbia University-Barnard College that reported about 15-percent of lower Manhattan parents with preschoolers had sought counseling for their children as a result of the attacks.

]]> World Trade Center Rescue Workers Health Problems Extend Beyond First Responders http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13388 Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13388 World Trade Center Emergency Workers who helped with recovery efforts in the days, weeks and months after the Twin Towers fell might also be coping with a wide variety of physical and emotional problems, says a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

In the days after 9/11, thousands of rescue workers descended on Ground Zero to help with recovery efforts. Sifting through dust and rubble, sometimes with their bare hands, many lacked the clothing and equipment that could have kept them safe from harm.  Several studies earlier this year confirmed that Ground Zero first responders were suffering from ill health as a result of their exposure to toxic dust at the site.  Released in May, the initial findings of a three-year study conducted by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of the 9,000 WTC first responders examined, 70-percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems. Another report released by the FDNY in early May reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who were first responders at Ground Zero. And the New York City Department of Health also found that one in eight first responders still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Now, the New York State Department of Health has released findings of a study that investigated the health consequences suffered by 1,423 members of the New York State Police, National Guard and Department of Transportation who worked at Ground Zero following the attacks.  A small number of study participants – 110 in all – where present at Ground Zero immediately after the attacks, and where caught up in the toxic dust cloud that was created when the Twin Towers collapsed.  But the vast majority of the study participants worked at Ground Zero during the last two weeks of September 2001, and they would have had somewhat less exposure to toxic dust than World Trade Center first responders.  Unfortunately, according to the New York State Department of Health’s study, lessened exposure did not translate into fewer health problems.

The New York State Department of Health evaluated these World Trade Center rescue workers in 2002-2003.   While the 110 rescue workers who where present at Ground Zero on September 11 reported the most frequent and severe mental and physical symptoms, such problems where the norm in far too many study participants.  Nearly half had respiratory symptoms, with 30 percent reporting a dry cough.  A third of the Ground Zero rescue workers reported worsening psychological problems, including sleep problems, fatigue and irritability.    Unfortunately, only 3% of the World Trade Center rescue workers who participated in the study reported seeking treatment for their health problems.

Advocates for Ground Zero rescue workers say that even the federal government has not done enough to ease the suffering caused by the World Trade Center toxic dust. Public health authorities are already bracing for what might be the next wave of health problems related to the 9/11 tragedy - a surge in cancer and cancer-related deaths among rescue workers. Advocates for the workers estimate that the cost of caring for them could eventually reach $393 million each year. They want the federal government to formulate a long-term plan to monitor the health of September 11 rescue workers. Such a program would allow 9/11 rescue workers to receive health screenings and treatment at government expense.


]]> World Trade Center Rescue Workers Get Offer from New York City to Negotiate in Lawsuit http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13225 Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13225 World Trade Center emergency workers seeking damages from the city.

About 40,000 people helped with the rescue and cleanup efforts at Ground Zero in the weeks following the terrorist attacks.  Now many of them are faced with chronic respiratory, gastrointestinal and mental health problems.   A study by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of 9,000 emergency workers, 70-percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems.   In May the FDNY reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who had spent time at Ground Zero. And the New York City Department of Health recently found that one in eight first responders still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These types of health problems have left many World Trade Center rescue workers unable to work.  The high medical bills that have resulted from their conditions have only added to their financial and personal hardships. Many have had no choice but to resort to lawsuits in an attempt to achieve some measure of financial security.

According to some New York City media reports, the 9,000 plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit against the city received letters from their attorney informing them that "The City of New York and the contractors have indicated that they want to negotiate a global or aggregate settlement on behalf of all our WTC clients,"  The letter went on to say that it would be up to the World Trade Center rescue workers to accept or reject any settlement offer, and they would also decide how the money would be divided among the plaintiffs.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg confirmed that the city had offered to negotiate. But he said that the city had not made any firm monetary offers, and that there was no guarantee that any talks would result in a settlement.  Earlier this year, New York City had tried to have the lawsuit dismissed in federal court.

New York City does have access to a $1 billion federal fund that it could access to settle the lawsuit.  However, some advocates for sick World Trade Center rescue workers do not believe even that amount will be enough to cover their long-term care.  Some estimates have suggested that medical expenses for the sickened World Trade Center responders could eventually reach $393 million each year.  

]]> World Trade Center Emergency Workers, Others Suffering From Ground Zero Toxins Could Be Helped by Proposed Law http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13114 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13114 World Trade Center emergency workers, volunteers and residents still suffering from the effects of the poisonous dust that blanketed Ground Zero and much Lower Manhattan following the attacks.

Representatives Caroline Maloney and Jerrold Nadler, both Democrats, and Vito Fosella, a Republican, have introduced the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.  They say their bill would ensure that anyone who was exposed to toxic dust from Ground Zero has the right to be medically monitored and the right to health care if they are or become ill.   Not only would the bill provide monitoring and treatment for World Trade Center first responders from the New York area, but the benefits would extend to the thousands of volunteers from around the country who assisted with rescue and recovery efforts.  The bill would also provide the same benefits to thousands of New York City residents exposed to the toxic dust.  Other provisions of the legislation would fund further research into World Trade Center-related illnesses and allow for the reopening of the September 11 Victims Compensation Fund so that people suffering illnesses related to Ground Zero toxins could receive financial assistance.

Already, the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act has garnered some important support.  It is endorsed by the New York State AFL/CIO.  And earlier this week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she would be supporting the legislation.  

Many World Trade Center rescue workers and other people in the vicinity of the 9/11 attacks have been a reporting a host of health problems since the tragedy.   A study by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of 9,000 emergency workers, 70-percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems.   In May the FDNY reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who had spent time at Ground Zero. And the New York City Department of Health recently found that one in eight first responders still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even children have not been immune from the effects of the deadly dust, as a recent report said that of 3,100 children enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry; nearly half had developed breathing problems three years after the attack.

But help for these people has been slow to come, as they have been forced to prove that their illnesses stem from toxic World Trade Center Dust.   For instance, many rescue worker have not had access to workers compensation insurance.  According to the New York State Compensation Board, the denial rate for workers compensation claims filed by World Trade Center rescuers is 76 percent higher than for other claims.  Unable to work, many of these heroes must now struggle with financial problems along with their health woes.  If the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act becomes law, these victims might finally see an end to some of their struggles.

]]> OSHA Failed World Trade Center Rescue Workers, Says Congressman http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13110 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13110 World Trade Center emergency workers should have been given respirators to protect them from toxic dust, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) did not do enough to ensure that the first responders had access to such safety equipment.    Those charges were leveled at OSHA yesterday by a member of congress during a hearing into the plight of emergency workers still suffering from exposure to the dust at Ground Zero following the World Trade Center terrorist attacks.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-NY, wanted to know why OSHA required emergency workers at the Pentagon to wear respirators, but did not enforce such rules at the World Trade Center.   “At the Pentagon, OSHA enforced regulations requiring respirators, and no workers became sick,” said Nadler.   “But OSHA failed to enforce its own regulations at the World Trade Center site, and now 70 percent of the first responders are sick and others have died.”

Patricia Clark, the OSHA regional administrator for New York, defended the agency’s actions, claiming that 131,000 respirators had been made available at Ground Zero.  She also said that workers were encouraged to wear them by signs posted throughout the site.  Clark said that OSHA chose not to cite individual workers for not wearing respirators because breathing zone samples did not indicate that toxins in the air were above thresholds OSHA deemed safe.  

Nadler also complained that many World Trade Center rescue workers were lulled into a false sense of security over assurances the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made about the air quality around Ground Zero. On September 18, 2001 Christine Todd Whitman, then head of the EPA, was quoted in a press release:  “Given the scope of the tragedy from last week, I am glad to reassure the people of New York and Washington, DC that their air is safe to breathe.”  Such statements would have led many emergency workers to believe that respirators were not necessary.  But since then, numerous studies have found that the dust around Ground Zero contained dangerous toxins such as asbestos and dioxin.  “The Federal government failed them.   It told them it was safe and it wasn’t,” Nadler said.

Philip Landrigan, who oversees a medical program at Mt. Sinai Hospital that works with sick Ground Zero first responders, told the committee that more than 21,000 rescue workers have sought treatment for respiratory ailments, gastrointestinal problems and mental health disorders in the years since the attacks.  He also said that many rescue workers will face more problems, as toxins such as asbestos and dioxin continue to wreak havoc on their bodies.  “The long-term consequences of these unique exposures are not yet known,” Landrigan testified.   “Respiratory illness, psychological distress and financial devastation have become a new way of life for many.”

]]> World Trade Center Health Website to Provide Resources for Rescue Workers, Others Still Suffering As a Result of 9/11 Attacks http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13105 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13105 website intended to provide information on the health consequences of the disaster. Since the Twin Towers fell, several studies have found that thousands of rescue workers, residents and others continue to suffer from diseases tied to the toxic World Trade Center dust.

A study earlier this year conducted by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that 70-percent of World Trade Center emergency workers had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems.   In May the FDNY reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who had spent time at Ground Zero. And the New York City Department of Health recently found that one in eight first responders still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Even children have not been immune from the effects of the deadly dust, as a recent report said that of 3,100 children enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry, nearly half had developed breathing problems three years after the attack. And the worst may not be over.  The toxic dust that enveloped so much of Lower Manhattan on 9/11 was filled with dangerous carcinogens like asbestos and dioxin. Public health authorities are already bracing for what might be the next wave of health problems related to the 9/11 tragedy - a surge in cancer and cancer-related deaths.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the creation of the World Trade Center health website during his weekly radio address on Sunday.  “We want people to know more about the health effects of 9/11 so that they can reach out for assessment and services,” Bloomberg said.

The new website provides health information, research and treatment options for rescue and recovery workers, residents, children, city employees and others affected by the World Trade Center attacks.  The website offers detailed information on where people can go to get evaluation and treatment and links to financial assistance providers, social-service and environmental groups, and others working on issues related to 9/11.  The site also provides additional resources for health care professionals.

The health consequences of the World Trade Center attacks are well documented, but little help has been provided to those still suffering.   Many rescue workers have been unable to work because of their illnesses, yet they have been turned down for workers compensation and other benefits.  Two bills currently in Congress would provide more than $100 million in additional funding to aid rescue workers, bringing the total allocated by Congress to $277 million.  But advocates for the workers estimate that the cost of caring for them could eventually reach $393 million each year.   They want the federal government to formulate a long-term plan to monitor the health of September 11 rescue workers.  Fortunately, Congress is set to begin considering such a program.  On September 18, the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee will begin hearings on the medical monitoring and treatment of 9/11 first responders.  

]]> World Trade Center Rescue Workers Sickened by Toxic Dust Still Struggle for Help http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13096 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13096 World Trade Center rescue workers have a high rate of respiratory and other diseases, many of them have been unable to secure workers compensation, disability and other benefits normally granted to those injured on the job.  Now, advocates for these heroes are calling on the federal government to come up with a plan to help those still suffering from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

About 40,000 people helped with the rescue and cleanup efforts at Ground Zero in the weeks following the terrorist attacks.  Now many of them are faced with chronic respiratory, gastrointestinal and mental health problems.   A study by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of 9,000 emergency workers, 70-percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems.   In May the FDNY reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who had spent time at Ground Zero. And the New York City Department of Health recently found that one in eight first responders still suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These types of health problems have left many World Trade Center rescue workers unable to work.  The high medical bills that have resulted from their conditions have only added to their financial and personal hardships.

But even though their World Trade Center illnesses are well documented, many rescue workers cannot get the financial help they need.  According to the New York State Compensation Board, the denial rate for workers compensation claims filed by World Trade Center rescuers is 76 percent higher than for other claims.  About 30 percent of claims filed by World Trade Center first responders were turned down this year, while the rate of denials of most other claims is around 17 percent.  

And advocates for Ground Zero rescue workers say that even the federal government has not done enough to ease the suffering caused by the World Trade Center toxic dust.  Two bills currently in Congress would provide more than $100 million in additional funding to aid rescue workers, bringing the total to $277 million.  But much more may be needed.  Public health authorities are already bracing for what might be the next wave of health problems related to the 9/11 tragedy - a surge in cancer and cancer-related deaths among rescue workers.  Advocates for the workers estimate that the cost of caring for them could eventually reach $393 million each year.   They want the federal government to formulate a long-term plan to monitor the health of September 11 rescue workers.  Such a program would allow 9/11 rescue workers to receive health screenings and treatment at government expense.  

Fortunately, Congress is set to begin considering such a program.  On September 18, the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee will begin hearings on the medical monitoring and treatment of 9/11 first responders.  Rescue workers and their advocates are hoping that the hearings will increase support for government programs that will provide much needed help to those still suffering from the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

]]> EPA World Trade Center Dust Cleanup Program Criticized As Flawed, Inadequately Financed http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13083 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13083 Government Accountability Office (GAO).   Released yesterday, a GAO report says that the program, which is run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is not adequately financed and poorly implemented.  Most disturbingly, the GAO report says that the EPA cleanup program has not been made available to every household that was contaminated with toxic World Trade Center dust following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

This is the second time the GAO has criticized the EPA’s efforts to rid Manhattan homes of toxin-laden World Trade Center dust.  The EPA's first  program, which cleaned 4, 167 dwellings and 144 buildings, was also found lacking by the GAO.  Earlier this summer, the GAO  accused the EPA of using faulty methodology when it reported the results of the first residential cleanup.  At the time, the EPA reported that only a fraction of the air samples taken from those dwellings showed unsafe levels of asbestos.  What the agency did not admit at the time was that the vast majority of those samples came from homes that had previously been through the decontamination process.  The GAO said this misleading information was the reason so few Lower Manhattan residents registered for the latest EPA cleanup program.

Now the GAO is faulting the EPA’s second attempt at a residential cleanup program because it was not made available to every residence that was enveloped by World Trade Center dust.   The current program covers only 272 residence and 25 buildings in Lower Manhattan.  Residences and buildings above Canal Street and Brooklyn that were also covered in dust following the 9/11 terrorist attacks were not eligible for the program.  The GAO also found that the EPA program has not implemented some recommendations made by a panel of technical experts that reviewed the agency's first residential cleanup attempt.  

The GAO also said that the EPA has not adequately financed its latest residential clean up program.   The EPA has allotted $7 million to fund the World Trade Center decontamination program.  But according to the GAO, the EPA never formulated a formal estimate for the program.  Rather, the $7 million represents money that was left over from the EPA’s first attempt at ridding homes of World Trade Center dust.

This is not the first time the EPA has come under fire for its handling and cleanup of toxic Word Trade Center dust.  Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, then EPA Administrator, Christine Todd Whitman issued numerous statements assuring New Yorkers that the air in Lower Manhattan was safe.  Since then, several studies have found those claims to be false.  

Far from safe, the World Trade Center dust has been found to contain high levels of pulverized glass, cement and toxins such as asbestos.  In the years since 9/11, thousands of rescue workers who spent weeks working at Ground Zero with little or no protective gear have reported unusually high incidences of respiratory illnesses.  Some researchers fear that the extent of 9/11- related illness will not be known for years.  

]]> Many World Trade Center Rescue Workers Still Struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13059 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13059 New York City Heath Department.  The Health Department, which studied data from the World Trade Center Health Registry, found that one in eight first responders suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of work done at Ground Zero.

About 71,000 World Trade Center emergency workers are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry.  The Health Department surveyed the initial interviews of 30,000 people listed on the Registry. Those interviews were conducted between 2003 and 2004.   The study included firefighters, police officers, construction workers, volunteers and even clergy who worked at Ground Zero on 9/11 and the days following the attack.  

The group with the highest prevalence of PTSD was “non-associated” volunteers (people not part of an organization like the Red Cross).  Their rates of PTSD were as high as 21-percent.  Other non-emergency workers like construction engineers and sanitation workers also had high rates of the mental disorder.  These workers were far less likely to have undergone the type of disaster training that is commonly provided to emergency professionals.

But even emergency professionals were not spared from the mental anguish brought on by the World Trade Center attacks.  A little over six percent of the police officers who worked at Ground Zero have reported PTSD symptoms.  And the rate of PTSD among firefighters at the site was twice that of police officers, coming in at 12.2 percent.  Six times as many firefighters as police died at Ground Zero, and researchers believe grief may affect both the development and severity of PTSD.

PTSD is a devastating mental illness that can plague victims and their families’ years after the occurrence of a traumatic event.  The anxiety disorder is characterized by intense fear and horror.  People with PTSD will often try to avoid situations that remind them of the event that triggered the disorder, and many PTSD patients report feeling emotionless or hyper-alert.  PTSD can lead to both drug and alcohol abuse, although patients with the disorder are known to respond well to counseling and medication.

In the years since the 9/11 attacks, World Trade Center rescue workers have been plagued by myriad health problems.   Early this week, the New York City Health Department said that rates of asthma among first responders were 12 times higher than normal.  Another study by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center also found that of 9,000 emergency workers, 70 percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60 percent still faced respiratory problems.   And a report released by the FDNY in early May reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who had spent time at Ground Zero.  Public health officials have also warned that rescue workers, who were exposed to carcinogens like asbestos in the toxic World Trade Center dust, could face a high probability of developing cancers.  All of these findings suggest that more misery is in store for the heroes who sacrificed so much to help others during the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.

]]> World Trade Center Rescue Workers Plagued by Asthma http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13048 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/13048 New York City Health Department, which found that 3.6 percent of World Trade Center first responders have developed asthma in the years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  That’s 12 times higher than the rate of asthma in the normal adult population.

About 71,000 rescue workers are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry.  The Health Department surveyed the health records of 25,000 people on the Registry between 2003 and 2004.   The study found that asthma rates were highest among rescue workers who arrived at Ground Zero the soonest and stayed the longest.  Seven percent of first responders who arrived at the site on September 11 and worked more than 90 days have developed asthma since 2001. The Health Department also found that a World Trade rescue worker’s occupation had little effect on the risk of developing asthma.  Fire fighters, police officers, EMS workers and volunteers all had about the same asthma rates.  The survey did find that a worker’s location at Ground Zero affected asthma risks.  World Trade Center rescue workers who were caught in the dust cloud when the buildings collapsed or worked directly on the debris pile had asthma rates as high as 4.9 percent.

Respirators did offer Ground Zero first responders some protection from the site’s toxic dust.  The Health Department found that only 2.9 to 4 percent of workers who wore respirators on September 11 and 12 ended up with asthma.  Between 4.5 and 6.3 percent of those who worked at Ground Zero the first two days without respirators developed the disease.  But though the respirators appeared to offer some protection, the Health Department found that asthma rates were still higher than the general population in every group of World Trade Center rescue workers it surveyed.

The Health Department study is not the first to show that World Trade Center first responders are plagued with chronic health problems.   An earlier study by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of 9,000 emergency workers, 70 percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60 percent still faced respiratory problems.   Another report released by the FDNY in early May reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who had spent time at Ground Zero.  

And the worst may not be over.  The toxic dust that rescue workers were exposed to was filled with dangerous carcinogens like asbestos and dioxin. Public health authorities are already bracing for what might be the next wave of health problems related to the 9/11 tragedy - a surge in cancer and cancer-related deaths among rescue workers.  Advocates for the workers estimate that the cost of caring for them could eventually reach $393 million each year, and have asked the federal government to set aside more funds for their treatment and monitoring

]]> World Trade Center Rescue Workers Sue WTC Captive Insurance Company for Long-overdue Compensation http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12902 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12902 emergency workers must first be used to litigate lawsuits before any of it goes to compensate workers.  As a result, not one 9/11 fist responder has received any compensation from the fund nearly six years after the terrorist attacks.

In 2003, Congress ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to set aside $1 billion to compensate rescue workers for injuries and illnesses they sustained during 9/11 recovery efforts.  Because so many of the workers were volunteers, they were not covered under traditional workers compensation policies.  FEMA established WTC Captive Insurance Company to disburse the funds.  The insurance fund has spent more than $75 million dollars to litigate worker lawsuits, and refuses to pay compensation to workers until all claims are settled.  Attorneys for the World Trade Center workers say that Congress never intended for the fund to be used for this purpose.

Since the attacks, World Trade Center first responders have faced chronic health problems.  Many have been unable to work, and were counting on compensation from the WTC Captive Insurance fund to help them financially.  A study by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of 9,000 emergency workers, 70-percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems.   Another report released by the FDNY in early May reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who had spent time at Ground Zero.  And the worst may not be over.  Many of the chemicals that rescue workers were exposed to, like asbestos and dioxin, are dangerous carcinogens. Public health authorities are already bracing for what might be the next wave of health problems related to the 9/11 tragedy - a surge in cancer and cancer-related deaths among rescue workers.  Advocates for the workers estimate that the cost of caring for them could eventually reach $393 million each year, and have asked the federal government to set aside more funds for their treatment and monitoring.  

Just last month, former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Christine Todd Whitman appeared before congress to answer for her agency’s handling of the 9/11 aftermath.  Shortly after the tragedy, the EPA issued a series of statements assuring the public and the World Trade Center workers that the air around Ground Zero was safe to breathe.  As a result, many rescue workers spent weeks sifting through the debris with little protective gear.  At the hearing, Whitman defended these statements, saying that she was trying “to get the city back on its feet as quickly as possible”.

]]> World Trade Center Rescue Workers Made Ill from Toxic Dust Finally Hear from Former EPA Head, Christine Todd Whitman http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12881 Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12881 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Christine Todd Whitman at a congressional hearing investigating the government’s response to the terrorist attacks.  Many first-responders hold Whitman and the EPA responsible for health problems they’ve suffered since aiding in the rescue efforts at Ground Zero.  They contend that statements released by the agency and its former head led them to believe the air around the fallen buildings was safe to breath.

Calling the accusation that she deliberately misled the public “utterly false”, Whitman claimed that assertions she made a week after the WTC attack regarding air quality  in lower Manhattan was safe were based on what experts had told her.   But her testimony contradicts a 2003 report by the EPA’s own inspector general which found that the agency did not have any scientific facts to back up claims it made following the 9/11 attacks.  Shortly after the tragedy, the EPA issued a series of statements assuring the public and the WTC Emergency Rescue Workers that the air around Ground Zero was safe to breathe.  On September 18th   Whitman herself was quoted in a press release:  “Given the scope of the tragedy from last week, I am glad to reassure the people of New York and Washington, DC that their air is safe to breathe.”  As a result, many rescue workers spent weeks sifting through the debris with little protective gear.

Since then, many of the WTC Emergency Workers have faced chronic health problems.  A study by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of 9,000 WTC responders, 70-percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems.  When asked about the Mt. Sinai study, Whitman conceded that she had not read it.  Another report released by the FDNY in early May reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who had spent time at Ground Zero.  And the worst may not be over.  Many of the chemicals that rescue workers were exposed to, like asbestos and dioxin, are dangerous carcinogens. Public health authorities are already bracing for what might be the next wave of health problems related to the 9/11 tragedy - a surge in cancer and cancer-related deaths among rescue workers.

Whitman attempted to defend her statements, saying they were aimed at Manhattan residents, not rescue workers.  “Was it wrong to try to get the city back on its feet as quickly as possible? Absolutely not,” she insisted.  But just last week a report made public by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) uncovered evidence that the EPA made misleading statements about dust contamination in residences around Ground Zero.  The reported concluded that many people living in the area neglected to enroll their homes in a special decontamination program because they were told by the EPA that air samples taken from apartments close to Ground Zero had been found to be safe.  What they weren’t told was that those homes had already been through the cleaning process.

Quite often, Whitman’s testimony was interrupted by boos and catcalls by the many WTC emergency workers who attended the hearing.   Whitman and the EPA are defendants in three separate lawsuits brought by city residents and rescue workers.

]]> Deadly World Trade Center Dust Killing Rescue Workers and Residents; Misleading EPA Information Didn't Help Situation http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12879 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12879 EPA claims in the wake of the 9/11 terrorism attacks on New York City.  According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), residents of Lower Manhattan were never told the truth about dust contamination in their apartments and condominiums.  As result of this inaccurate information, only a fraction of the 20,000 eligible residents and building owners bothered to take part in a special program designed to protect them from toxic World Trade Center dust.

In a report released last Wednesday, the GAO said that the Environmental Protection Agency used faulty methodology when it reported the results of a residential cleanup program in Lower Manhattan in 2002 and 2003.  In that program, more than 4,000 residences in the area where decontaminated.  At the time, the EPA reported that only a fraction of the air samples taken from those dwellings showed unsafe levels of asbestos.  What the Agency did not admit at the time was that the vast majority of those samples came from homes that had previously been through the decontamination process.  

The report cites this misleading information as the main reason so many Lower Manhattan residents failed to register for a special residential cleanup program offered by the EPA.  By the time the enrollment period for the program ended this past March, fewer than 300 households had signed up to participate, leaving potentially thousands exposed to high levels of contaminated dust.  The EPA had no immediate response to the report, saying through a spokesperson that it needed time to review the GAO’s findings before issuing any comments.

This is not the first time the EPA has come under fire for failing to warn people about toxic materials in Word Trade Center dust.  Following the attacks, then EPA Administrator, Christine Todd Whitman, issued numerous statements assuring New Yorkers that the air in Lower Manhattan was safe.  Since then, several studies have found those claims to be false.  

Far from safe, the World Trade Center dust has been found to contain high levels of pulverized glass, cement and toxins such as asbestos.  In the years since 9/11, thousands of rescue workers who spent weeks working at Ground Zero with little or no protective gear have reported unusually high incidences of respiratory illnesses.  Some researchers fear that the extent of  9/11- related illness will not be known for years.  

The GAO report was made public at a Senate subcommittee hearing last Wednesday.  The hearing is expected to continue today, with former-EPA head Christine Todd Whitman scheduled to testify.  It will be the first time in six years that Whitman has testified under oath about her agency’s response to the World Trade Center attacks.

]]> Years Later, WTC Rescue Workers Face Disease And Disability http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12866 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12866 World Trade Center were exposed to high levels of toxic dust and chemicals that have resulted in serious health problems.  In the months and years following the terrorist attacks, Ground Zero responders and their advocates have insisted that many who worked at the site were suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses as a result of this exposure.  Now, several studies have validated these claims.

Released last week, the initial findings of a three-year study conducted by the Mt. Sinai Medical Center found that of the 9,000 WTC responders examined, 70-percent had suffered some type of lung ailment after the attacks, and that 60-percent still faced respiratory problems.  Another report released by the FDNY in early May reported that cases of the rare lung disease sarcoidosis had risen dramatically among firefighters and EMS workers who had spent time at Ground Zero.

In the days after 9/11, thousands of rescue workers descended on Ground Zero to help with recovery efforts.  Sifting through dust and rubble, sometimes with their bare hands, many lacked the clothing and equipment that could have kept them safe from harm.  What’s worse, none of them were made aware of the dangers they faced.

Following attacks, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a series of statements assuring the public that the air around Ground Zero was safe to breathe.  On September 18th   Christine Todd Whitman, then head of the EPA, was quoted in a press release:  “Given the scope of the tragedy from last week, I am glad to reassure the people of New York and Washington, DC that their air is safe to breathe.”

But since then, numerous studies have found that such reassurances were false.  Rather, the Mt. Sinai study found that large amounts of pulverized glass, cement and toxins such as asbestos were present in the air around Ground Zero.

Now, thousands of rescue workers, once fit and healthy, are dealing with respiratory problems that leave them unable to work.  Many of these workers have been denied workers’ compensation and other benefits, often because they cannot prove that their illness is a result of time spent at Ground Zero. They face mounting medical bills, and many have no access to health insurance.  And researches fear the worst is yet to come.  Many of the chemicals that rescue workers were exposed to, like asbestos and dioxin, are dangerous carcinogens.  It is possible that the next wave of this tragedy will be a surge in cancer and cancer-related deaths among rescue workers.

This frightening prospect leads to speculation over how these ill rescuers will pay for medical care.  While Congress recently allocated $52 million for the treatment of Ground Zero-related illnesses, more funding will be needed.  Several groups have announced class action lawsuits against the EPA and other agencies that did not do enough to protect the health of emergency personnel.   Meanwhile, researchers at Mt. Sinai will continue their study, as it is apparent that it will take years to determine the full scope of this tragedy.

]]> Big rise in lung ailments for WTC Bravest http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12816 Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12816
There were 26 new cases of sarcoidosis in the five years after Sept. 11, 2001, FDNY doctors report in this month's issue of the journal Chest. In comparison, there were 45 cases in the 15 years before the attacks.

While just one of the firefighters who developed the inflammatory disease before 9/11 had any symptoms, 69% of those who developed it afterward have asthma, the study found.

"Asthma is a disabling disease for firefighters," said Dr. David Prezant, the FDNY's chief medical officer. "It's had an impact on people's lives, their careers."

EMS Lt. Jeffrey Halpern was recently diagnosed with sarcoidosis and suffered breathing problems stemming from his work at Ground Zero, according to statements written by his doctors.

Though Halpern, 59, said he smoked pipes and cigars in college, he's "100%" certain his disease is the result of Ground Zero.

Sarcoidosis "hasn't been seen, and all of a sudden it's being seen? I think that's a pretty good argument," said Halpern, who lives in Brooklyn.

The FDNY confirmed Halpern worked at Ground Zero but could not immediately say how many hours he spent at the site. Although Halpern is part of the department's medical monitoring program, he is not being treated by its doctors for a specific World Trade Center ailment, said FDNY spokesman Frank Gribbon.

Halpern, who said he needed a private doctor for another serious illness, is in the process of documenting his sickness for the department.

The FDNY data are the first to show a rise in sarcoidosis after an "intense environmental exposure," Prezant wrote. That "strongly" suggests that the proliferation of FDNY cases is linked to the toxic cloud at Ground Zero, he said.

]]> Study Links Serious Lung Illness To Work At WTC Site http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12817 Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12817
A study by doctors from the Fire Department and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine says cases of a rare type of lung disease soared in the year after the WTC collapsed.

The study published in the journal Chest found 15 firefighters and rescue workers were diagnosed with a disease called Sarcoidosis in the year after the collapse. That's compared to an average of two to four cases per year in the 15 years before September 11th.

Sarcoidosis is a disease where lungs and other organs become inflamed. The disease can be treated, but in some cases it can be deadly.

This is the first study to clearly link working in the World Trade Center debris, to serious illness.

All other studies have only cited coughing and breathing problems associated with working at the site.]]> Study links lung disease to WTC work http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12825 Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12825
The study, published by nine doctors including the medical officer monitoring city firefighters, Dr. David Prezant, found that firefighters and rescue workers contracted sarcoidosis in the year after Sept. 11, 2001, at a rate more than five times higher than the years before the attacks.

Unlike previous studies that have linked exposure to the toxic dust cloud that enveloped lower Manhattan after the World Trade Center's collapse to many different respiratory illnesses, this study zeros in on one disease.

Sarcoidosis, which can be life-threatening, causes an inflammation in the lungs that deposits tiny cells in the organs, leaving scar tissues that damage them. Several rescue workers and others exposed to trade center dust have claimed they contracted the disease from their work at ground zero.

The study compared the rates of contracting sarcoidosis among fire department employees for 15 years before Sept. 11 and for five years after it. It said firefighters who showed symptoms of the disease on chest X-rays underwent more intensive exams.

After the trade center attack, 26 firefighters were diagnosed with sarcoidosis, the study found. Thirteen were diagnosed in the first year after the attacks, which represents a rate of 86 per 100,000. In the 15 years before the attack, the rate of sarcoidosis was 15 per 100,0000, the study found.

None of the 26 rescue workers, who are in their 30s and 40s, has died of the disease, and about 10 have improved or recovered since their diagnoses, the study found. Two of the firefighters were former smokers, the study found.

The study was published this week in the May issue of CHEST Physician, a journal published by the American College of Chest Physicians.]]> 9/11 Workers: Bush Health Plan Not Enough http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12498 Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12498
“On behalf of all World Trade Center victims, I expressed the urgency and the desperate need for financial support for health services,” said Ceasar Borja Jr., 21.

He said he told the president that the funding should be expanded not just for “the heroes and heroines” who risked their lives to save victims under the twin towers, but also for men, women and children exposed to toxins because they lived or worked in the area.

Borja's father, Cesar Borja, was a police officer who worked 14-hour days in the smoldering pit after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. He died at 52 while awaiting a lung transplant.

Bush met Borja, his mother, Eva, his 16-year-old brother, Evan, and 12-year-old sister, Nhia, at Federal Hall in downtown Manhattan, where the president delivered a speech about the economy on Wednesday.

About an hour before the speech, sick 9/11 workers and neighborhood residents gathered nearby at the edge of ground zero to criticize Bush's proposal to spend an additional $25 million to fund a health care program.

“Twenty-five million is absolutely not enough,” said Marvin Bethea, 47, pointing out that some legislators, including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, have proposed $1.9 billion in additional funds.

“First responders who need treatment will get the treatment they need,” Bush spokesman Tony Snow said Wednesday. “Many are already covered by insurance programs, many through their union; but if there are gaps in that, we're going to do it.”

Next week, the Bush administration is expected to propose the additional funding for the Sept. 11-related health care program at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center, where 19,000 rescue workers have been screened.

About seven out of every 10 responders suffered lung problems, according to a Mount Sinai study. One of study authors has said thousands will likely need long-term care.

White House officials said they would consider providing more money, depending on the findings of a separate government task force.

The programs had been expected to run out of money by the summer. A grant of $75 million made last year was expected to last until then.]]> DOH To Study Fatalities Of 9/11 Workers At WTC http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12499 Tue, 30 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12499
The department has previously conducted other studies dealing with health issues among workers and responders at the World Trade Center site as the result of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

As part of the agreement, the Department will be investigating deaths that have occurred among search and rescue workers and volunteers who responded to the WTC disaster site on or after September 11th. Workers have experienced a variety of physical and mental health problems. The full impact of human exposure to environmental contaminants at the WTC disaster site remains unknown. The Department will use the information gained from this study in a long-term effort to better understand the effects on workers' health.

This data collection project will build upon the department's previous World Trade Center initiatives such as coordinating a medical monitoring program for responding state employees and National Guard personnel; studying asthma and related symptoms in responders who were NYS employees, and examining upper and lower respiratory symptoms among residents.

By collecting information on those who may have prematurely died, health care experts hope to gain a better understanding of how to most effectively treat other responders. In addition, the information will be helpful in improving the medical treatment of individuals who are currently experiencing, or may in the future experience, adverse health effects associated with exposure to debris at the WTC site. Workers at the site were exposed to smoke from fires, cement and concrete dust, metals, asbestos, and other contaminants.]]> 'Wake up and do something' about our health, 9/11 workers demand http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12500 Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12500
"The government needs to wake up and do something. More and more guys are getting sick every day," said Donna Nolan of Yonkers, whose husband Jimmy, 41, has developed breathing problems. "These guys need help."

The small group gathered at Mount Sinai Medical Center on the upper East Side, where former NYPD Officer Cesar Borja, 52, is in critical condition with pulmonary fibrosis. "It really means a lot to me and my family," said the officer's son Ceasar Borja, 21. "He's doing a little better. He's fighting."

Borja's family believes he contracted the disease working 16-hour shifts at Ground Zero. He needs a lung transplant to survive.

Cops, firefighters, construction workers and other volunteers who worked at Ground Zero after 9/11 say toxic air there scarred their lungs, put them at risk of cancer and robbed them of robust health.

At least four Ground Zero workers have died of pulmonary fibrosis, including NYPD Detective James Zadroga, whose father, Joseph Zadroga, attended the rally.

But doctors say they can't draw a direct link between the workers' service and their ailments - trapping many in a fruitless search for help and compensation, others said. The physicians urge anyone who worked at the World Trade Center site to get a full checkup.

Retired cop Allison Palmer, 38, who blames her cancer on World Trade Center dust, carried a sign with color pictures of her medical scans that said, "The air was not clean. Shame on you!"

"I never smoked a cigarette in my life. I don't drink alcohol. I don't use drugs. It's not a hereditary type of cancer," Palmer said. "There's no doubt in my mind it's from Ground Zero."

Vito Valenti, 43, stood on the cold sidewalk pulling an oxygen tank. A judge last month ordered that he get workers' compensation benefits for pulmonary fibrosis after volunteering at Ground Zero.

"I want to show my support, because that's what I have," Valenti said.
]]> Most 9/11 recovery workers suffered lung ills http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12501 Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12501
Doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center, which conducted the study, said the results prove that working in the toxic gray dust at ground zero made many people sick, and some will likely suffer the effects for the rest of their lives.

“There should no longer be any doubt about the health effects of the World Trade Center. Our patients are sick,” said Dr. Robin Herbert, co-director of the group that investigated the long-term effects from exposure to dust at the site.

The study, the largest involving health issues linked to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and is to be published Thursday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, just days before the fifth anniversary of the towers’ collapse.

'World Trade Center cough'
It focused mostly on what has been dubbed “World Trade Center cough,” which was little understood immediately after the attacks but has become a chief concern of health experts and advocates. It also found that lung ailments tended to be worst among those who arrived first at the site.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg later said there was still no direct proof that exposure at ground zero caused the illnesses.

“I haven’t seen the Mount Sinai study, but I don’t believe that you can say specifically a particular problem came from this particular event,” Bloomberg said at a separate event to announce the city’s own Sept. 11 health initiative.

Findings highlighted by the Mount Sinai study include:

Almost 70 percent of World Trade Center responders had new or worsened lung symptoms after the attacks.
Among responders who had no health symptoms before the attacks, 61 percent developed lung symptoms while working on the toxic pile.
One-third of those tested had abnormal lung function tests.

In lung function tests, responders had abnormalities at a rate double that expected in the general population. Those abnormalities persisted for months and in some cases years after the exposure, the study found.

The findings are based on medical exams conducted between July 2002 and April 2004 on 9,500 ground zero workers, including construction workers, law enforcers, firefighters, transit workers, volunteers and others.

The hospital has been the focal point of New York research on Sept. 11-related illnesses, and thousands have sought treatment there.

The report comes as public concern over the fate of ground zero workers has risen. In a class action lawsuit against the city and its contractors, 8,000 workers and civilians blame Sept. 11 for sinusitis, cancers and other ailments they developed after the attacks.

The doctors were joined by New York politicians who prodded the federal government to extend funding for research and treatment programs. They also charged that environmental officials failed to issue necessary warnings about the health danger.

“Our government was not telling us the truth,” said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. “The air was not safe to breathe. It was obvious that the air was hard to see through, let alone breathe.”

Dr. John Howard, who was appointed by the Bush administration in February to coordinate ground zero health programs, said the findings buttress earlier work done by city researchers.

Tracking long-term effects
Gov. George Pataki signed legislation last month that expanded benefits for workers who became sick after toiling at ground zero, but Bloomberg objected to the laws, saying they were unfunded and would cost the city hundreds of millions of dollars.

Bloomberg said the city’s plan being unveiled Tuesday would “build on our track record of supporting those who supported us in the months after 9/11,” according to an op-ed piece by the mayor in the Daily News.

A House committee plans to hold a hearing on Sept. 11 health issues this week.

The city-run World Trade Center Health Registry is tracking the long-term effects on 71,000 people, including those who lived or worked in lower Manhattan at the time of the attacks and the months of cleanup.

Just last week, New York City health officials issued long-awaited guidelines to help doctors detect and treat Sept. 11-related illnesses medical advice considered crucial for hundreds of ground zero workers now scattered across the United States.]]> Health troubles persist for 9/11 rescue workers http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12502 Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12502
In 2001, after the attack on the World Trade Center, he'd donned a paper mask and toiled at Ground Zero on rescue and recovery missions. Then he developed a cough and damaged lungs. Four years later, the 34-year-old was dying.

Sometime in that January night, Zadroga fell to the bedroom floor. At dawn, his father came into the room and found him, then gently woke the girl to tell her that Zadroga was dead. Her bottle was still in his hand. "I told her that her daddy has passed and she cried, 'No, no, he's just sleeping, he just got up to get me a bottle,' " says Joseph Zadroga, of Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J., who is now raising his granddaughter, Tyler Ann. Her mother died two years earlier.

An autopsy done by a New Jersey coroner attributed James' death to dust from Ground Zero. He had never been a smoker and had no previous respiratory problems. "No one should have to go through this," his father says.

Nearly five years after the terrorist attack, thousands of workers who toiled at the World Trade Center site continue to experience health problems, according to doctors at Mount Sinai Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine in New York.

Zadroga's death the first death linked by an autopsy to toxins at the site has galvanized union leaders and politicians such as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., to call for more aid and investigation.

Concern over ongoing ailments plaguing World Trade Center workers is also leading to accusations that federal safety oversight at Ground Zero was lax a charge that federal officials vigorously deny. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials said in a statement issued to USA TODAY in May that they responded immediately as events unfolded, with the highest priority being to protect the environment and health of the people of New York.

The agency took more than 10,000 samples of air, water and dust, which yielded more than a quarter of a million results, and worked with other federal agencies to caution that workers should wear protective gear. Officials acknowledge that some workers from the site now are ill.

A class-action lawsuit has been filed alleging that the agency made false reassurances about the air quality at the site. No trial date has been set.

"The EPA said there was no danger, but this was the perfect storm of environmental toxins, and now we're paying the price," says Thomas Cahill, an air pollution expert and professor emeritus at the University of California, Davis, who studied the air quality around Ground Zero. "It was wildly toxic, and the EPA knew that. Hopefully, this will lead to a renewed effort not to forget these people."

About 40,000 workers toiled at Ground Zero, including immigrant day laborers, contractors, volunteers from other towns, paramedics, firefighters and police officers. They carried out myriad tasks, from digging through rubble in search of survivors to delivering ice and water. It's uncertain how many may now be sick.

A medical screening and monitoring program coordinated by Mount Sinai Center for Occupational & Environmental Medicine in New York indicates that more than half need immediate medical or mental health treatment. The estimate is based on a sample of the 16,000 workers screened to date. In fact, demand is so great that the waiting list for care through an independent treatment program offered by Mount Sinai is 16 weeks. The study looks at those who worked at the site during or shortly after the disaster.

Rare lung diseases emerge

One concern now is the emergence in first responders of rare lung-scarring diseases that could be fatal, says Robin Herbert, director of the World Trade Center program at Mount Sinai. Another concern is the potential for an increased rate of cancer in coming years. Asthma, chronic sinusitis and mental health problems also are common among those who were first on the scene.

"It's tragic. Our work has identified large numbers of heavily exposed workers who were never provided with appropriate respiratory protection," Herbert says. "A more vigorous public health approach might have prevented illnesses we're seeing today."

Glenn Greene, a Department of Justice lawyer representing former EPA administrator Christine Whitman, declined to comment on allegations that safety precautions were lax, as did the DOJ's press office. "From the moment the planes hit the World Trade Center, the men and women of the (EPA) began to do everything in their power to protect the people of New York," Whitman said in a February statement.

The city of New York, which has also been criticized for its handling of safety issues, said in a 2002 release from the law department that it "did everything in its power to assist people" and that "decisions were made with the best possible information available."

Vinny Forras just doesn't want his sacrifices to be forgotten. He believes more funding for treatment of first responders, as well as some sort of memorial for those who die after 9/11 of diseases related to exposure, is vital.

Forras, 48, was a volunteer firefighter at the South Salem (N.Y.) Fire Department who was dispatched to the World Trade Center the day of the attack. The first thing he saw was the firetruck that his best friend had been riding in smashed by the debris from the collapsing towers; his friend had been killed. Forras worked at the site night and day.

On his second day, he woke up at a triage center gasping for air; he was given steroids by the medical staff, he said, and sent back to work. At one point, Forras was working on rescue and recovery when he tried to climb down a beam; instead, he found himself buried briefly under the rubble. For an hour and a half, he says, he remained trapped underground.

Three months later, his breathing problems began, he says. Forras, who has never smoked, used to be able to run two or three miles a day. Now, he can get winded walking from the car to his home, he says.

He uses steroids and inhalers to breathe, antidepressants to help combat post traumatic stress disorder and sleep medications. He lives on disability payments from workers' compensation and Social Security. "It's very hard to see your own kids taking care of you," says Forras, founder of the Gear Up Foundation, a non-profit that donates fire equipment, prevention and training around the world. "We humbly did what we did. It was our job. But in 10, 15 years, we'll be ghosts. We're the Ground Zero walking wounded."

And that has become a growing fear: that some first responders at the scene could develop lung diseases and other ailments that will kill them adding to the attack's death total. Many responders, such as volunteers from other cities, may not realize their health problems are related or get the assistance they need.

One million tons of dust

An estimated 1 million tons of dust rained down on the city and the 16-acre disaster zone, showering the area with asbestos, Freon, carcinogens, concrete, glass fibers, lead and other hazards. Workers inhaled caustic fine cement dust and a mixture of sulfuric acid, a byproduct of combustion, which defeated the lungs' defense system and allowed particles to become deeply embedded, Cahill says.

A lawyer representing about 8,000 clients with health problems who are suing supervisors, the EPA, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, contractors and others involved in the cleanup, says more than 50 families have lost loved ones due to their Twin Towers work. No trial dates have been set.

"There are thousands of people who will get cancer and will die from this, and the government isn't doing anything," the plantiffs' attorney said. "Every week I get one or two calls from a cop saying, 'What do I do for my wife and kids? I've just been diagnosed with leukemia or sarcoidosis (an inflammation that creates scar tissue, often in the lungs).' "

The Port Authority declined to comment on any pending litigation.

There has been financial assistance, including a $125 million federal package that will help fund a health registry of World Trade Center first responders and nearby residents. The money includes $75 million for screenings, exams and treatment for rescue and recovery workers, as well as $50 million to the New York State Uninsured Employers Fund for reimbursement of 9/11-related claims. But some, such as Mount Sinai's Herbert, say more will be needed, because even a few severe illnesses can run up staggering medical costs. An April study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found more than half of survivors reported new or worsening respiratory symptoms after the attacks.

EPA says it gave help

EPA officials say in a statement that the agency "provided masks and goggles for rescuers and crew workers. EPA also encouraged rescue workers to wet down the debris to help protect themselves from asbestos, smoke and dust."

The agency says it provided more than 22,000 respirators, more than 32,000 respirator cartridges and other protective gear and emphasized the need for respiratory protection at daily operations meetings at the site.

"As our nation continues its effort to keep Americans safe from future attacks on our country, EPA remains passionately committed to protecting the health of our citizens and our environment," the agency said in a statement.

But the EPA and other federal offices are coming under criticism for their response.

In an 82-page pretrial ruling in a class-action lawsuit filed by residents and workers in the area, U.S. District Court Judge Deborah Batts said Whitman's "deliberate and misleading" statements about the air quality "shocks the conscience. "

She also said in her February opinion that the EPA knew as soon as Sept. 12, 2001 the day after the attack that one of the first air samples contained an asbestos level four times higher than the EPA threshold for danger. The judge was ruling on motions to dismiss counts in the case; Batts agreed to let the lawsuit continue.

Whitman responded with a release that said, "every action taken by the EPA during the response to this horrific event was designed to provide the most comprehensive protection and the most accurate information to the residents of Manhattan. To imply otherwise is completely inaccurate."]]> World Trade Center 9 11 Emergency Workers Lawsuit http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/world_trade_center_emergency_workers Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/world_trade_center_emergency_workers Legal Help for 9/11 World Trade Center Rescue Workers On May 7, 2007, in the first clinical study to connect World Trade Center dust to serious and on occasion fatal diseases, doctors discovered that the number of New York City rescue and recovery workers with a rare type of lung-scarring condition soared in the year after the trade center collapsed. Doctors from the Fire Department and at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that 13 firefighters and emergency medical service workers developed sarcoidosis.

The authors of the study, which include Dr. David J. Prezant, deputy chief medical officer of the Fire Department and a member of the faculty at Albert Einstein calculated an incidence rate in the first year after the collapse of 86 cases per 100,000 workers. This finding is more than five times higher than the 15 per 100,000 rate (an average of two to four cases per year) for Firefighter Department workers in the 15 years before the trade center collapsed.

After the original rise in disease rates after 9/11, the number of cases of sarcoidosis and similar illnesses dropped, according to the study, but remained rather higher than normal for several more years, equivalent to a rate of 22 per 100,000 (with no more than four cases each year). In total, doctors found 26 cases of sarcoidosis in the five years after 9/11, an amount surpassing the combined total for the previous 15 years.

Several federal and local studies of the health impact of contact with to World Trade Center dust have shown that a high percentage of rescue and recovery workers developed persistent coughs and other respiratory problems. But until now, there has not been enough data available to say with certainty whether more serious illnesses might develop.

The new peer-reviewed study, released on May 7, 200, which can be found in the medical journal Chest, is considered to have a high degree of reliability because yearly checkups by department doctors make it possible to compare a firefighter’s condition before and after 9/11. Other clinical studies are usually based on conditions reported by rescue and recovery workers.

On average, the firefighters and emergency workers with sarcoidosis were 39 years old and had 10 years’ experience on the job. Of the 26 workers who have the illness, 24 said they never smoked tobacco, and the other two were described as ex-smokers.

When disaster struck on 9/11 brave emergency workers rushed to Ground Zero to help in anyway they could. Following 9/11 it is estimated that as many as 50,000 at Ground Zero wore little or no protective gear. Now these same workers who risked their lives to save others are plagued by chronic health problems and are not receiving the treatment and support they deserve. Many sick patients have been denied compensation because they cannot prove they were at Ground Zero or that their illnesses were the direct result of Ground Zero exposure. 

Many workers have developed health problems that have caused them to stop working, causing them not only to lose their salaries but also their health insurance. These heroes are suffering because they can no longer afford medication and treatment. But as the debate continues the number of illnesses and deaths increases. Emergency workers have experienced a wide array of medical problems including a persistent cough, now labeled "World trade center cough" and black lung disease.

The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency at the time, Christie Whitman, assured New Yorkers their air was "safe to breathe". Several groups have since filed class action lawsuits against her and her agency, and a federal judge called her statements "conscience-shocking." Even the EPA's own inspector general has criticized the agency's handling of the crisis. A 2003 report found that on the basis of early tests for asbestos, which had been reassuring, the EPA made misleading pronouncements about air quality. And the White House, the report said, removed cautionary language from the agency's press releases.

A further study by the US general accounting office in 2004 found that the federal government had taken no comprehensive actions to study the health effects of 9/11 pollution and "the full health impact of the attack is unknown". This is what concerns doctors the most. Dr. Moline who is running a screening program for these workers at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York said "that diseases could take years to develop. Her concerns start with cancer, but extend to potential effects on the heart and a variety of lung and respiratory problems. She advises screening exposed workers every 18 months for at least 20 years.

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