Asbestos and The World Trade Center Disaster

The concept of the World Trade Center was designed in 1960 by the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Development association. They wanted to revitalize the low-rate street which was dominated by electronic stores. David Rockefeller, the founder of the association, pushed hard for the revitalization project, insisting that it would benefit all of New York.

Plans to build the center were started in 1962, and construction began in 1966. To create the site for the World Trade Center, which took up 16 acres of land, five streets were closed and 164 buildings were demolished. The north tower was opened in December of 1970 and the south tower was open in January of 1972. At the time of their construction, they were the fifth and sixth tallest buildings in the world.

Most people will forever remember what they were doing when the World Trade Center was struck by airplanes. September 11, 2001 is not a date that many will ever forget. Many sat riveted to their televisions watching as the horrors unfolded. Unfortunately for thousands of people, there are very real dangers that the World Trade Center catastrophe invoked, including health issues from dust and debris.

The dust and debris from the collapse of the World Trade Centers posed serious health hazards to the people who were exposed during the attack. Much of the dust from the World Trade Centers included asbestos, which was present throughout the materials in the buildings. For more information about these issues, please read The World Trade Center - Asbestos use in Construction and The World Trade Center - Cleanup.

One of the risks associated with inhaling asbestos fibers is the future development of mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma is considered to be a rare type of cancer with approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new cases reported each year. The biggest issue with mesothelioma is that it takes anywhere from 20 to 50 years to present itself. In the majority of cases, the disease occurs in the lining of the lungs, but it can develop in the lining of the abdomen or heart. For more information about mesothelioma, please see Mesothelioma Overview.

Asbestos fibers are microscopic, thin and extremely durable. They are easily inhaled and once they become lodged in the linings of the lungs, heart, or abdomen, they often remain there for several decades. Due to their durability, the body is often unable to break them down and expel them.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding asbestos exposure, as many who have developed mesothelioma are contacting mesothelioma lawyers to help them with their case. While it is not impossible, most of those who were exposed during the collapse of the World Trade Centers will not yet be diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. However, the risk of eventually contracting a disease is high and exposed victims should seek regular medical examinations from their doctor.

While the tragedy of the World Trade Center might be over for some, it is still a very real threat for thousands who lived near the site. The years to come will show whether the asbestos in the buildings have continued to cause further damages to those exposed.