Asbestos and the World Trade Center

During the time when the World Trade Center was planned and constructed, asbestos was a very prevalent building material. It was highly heat resistant, easy to incorporate into a number of materials and relatively inexpensive. As a result, asbestos-containing products like insulation, drywall, steel and fireproofing materials were incorporated into a number of structures within the World Trade Center buildings. An estimated 400 tons of asbestos were used.

When the Twin Towers collapsed to the ground on September 11, 2001, a massive cloud of smoke, dust and debris released these hazardous asbestos fibers and other toxic substances into the air. Asbestos fireproofing materials from 20 stories of the towers came showering down on New York City. According to reports from the EPA, the implosion from the towers "pulverized asbestos to ultra-fine particles."

The World Trade Center Health Registry estimates about 410,000 people were exposed to a host of toxins including asbestos during the rescue, recovery and clean-up efforts that followed 9/11. People most affected by asbestos at Ground Zero were people assigned to rescue survivors. These workers were among the first on the scene and the last to leave the wreckage. Search and rescue workers and others responsible for cleaning up the debris in the months after the towers collapsed were also exposed to asbestos.

The Effects of Asbestos Exposure

If you were affected by asbestos exposure during or after the 9/11 attacks, you could be at risk of developing serious illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. The Mesothelioma Center offers a free packet of information that can help you understand more about the diseases caused by exposure to asbestos and how to find doctors and cancer centers that specialize in treating these diseases. Request this complimentary care packet by filling out the form on the right hand side of this page.

Health Concerns of Asbestos Use in Building the Twin Towers

This toxic substance raised health concerns even as construction of the towers began in 1966. When construction of the North Tower was well underway in 1971, the World Trade Center builders halted the use of asbestos because a ban on the material was expected in the near future. But by this time many asbestos-containing products had already been incorporated into both towers.

Asbestos Health Concerns after the Attack

These asbestos products did not pose a health concern until 9/11, when asbestos fireproofing materials from 20 stories of the towers came showering down on New York City. According to reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the implosion of the towers "pulverized asbestos to ultra-fine particles" and scattered the debris over Lower Manhattan.

Exposure to asbestos can cause life-threatening illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. These diseases normally take between 20 and 50 years to display symptoms. But in 2006 – five years after inhaling the toxic debris from Ground Zero – an emergency responder from 9/11 died of mesothelioma. Another worker, 41-year-old Deborah Reeve, developed a serious cough just two years after the attacks and died of mesothelioma in 2004.

Experts expect a larger number of 9/11 responders to be diagnosed with these illnesses in the upcoming years. That's because many of these first responders and workers who assisted in the clean-up and recovery were ill-prepared to face the airborne contaminants, and few were given adequate respiratory protection in the months after 9/11.

As a result, nearly 70 percent of recovery personnel have suffered from lung problems, including a condition that was later coined "World Trade Center Cough." However, some responders are still fighting to have their health issues covered by a special 9/11 fund.

Workers in a number of occupations, as well as others who were in New York City on 9/11, were affected by the collapse of the World Trade Centers.

According to a report from a Hopkins University study, even workers who joined the clean-up process by January 2002 developed "significant respiratory health problems."

As of September 2009, the organization 9-11 Health Now reported that 817 World Trade Center workers had died from various causes. About 40,000 were enrolled in medical monitoring and 20,000 were "sick and under treatment." Many had upper respiratory issues, while some reported multiple medical concerns. A number of these people are receiving help from designated World Trade Center programs at facilities such as Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Resources for Those Affected by the World Trade Center Disaster

The health issues caused by the disaster can be overwhelming. Many victims are still left with mounting medical bills and other expenses. To find out about treatment options and financial assistance, call (800) 615-2270 to speak to a Patient Advocate.

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