Poisonous dust from 9/11 attack has given almost 10,000 New Yorkers cancer
The federal World Trade Center Health Program has counted 9,795 first responders and other New Yorkers with cancer deemed 9/11-related
NEARLY 10,000 people have suffered cancers linked to the toxic dust and smoke resulting from 9/11.
With the 17th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks a month away, the federal World Trade Center Health Program has counted 9,795 first responders and other New Yorkers with cancer deemed 9/11-related.
In all, more than 1,700 responders and others affected have died, including 420 of those stricken with cancer, officials said.
“9/11 is still killing,” said John Feal, an advocate for WTC responders.
“Sadly, this fragile community of heroes and survivors is shrinking by the day.”
The number of cancer patients has rapidly risen since the federal program started tracking the disease in 2013.
But the father of five, who left the NYPD for the Suffolk County Police closer to home, is grateful to be alive — and has not lost his passion for public service.
Wilson said: “God forbid there’s another 9/11, I want to be able to respond to that.”
Debbie Morales, then a 23-year-old receptionist for the National Coffee Association, stepped out of the subway to mayhem as the Twin Towers burned. “There are things I saw I can never undo,” she said, sobbing.
Over the next few weeks, Morales spent hours at a time in her wrecked office, retrieving paperwork for colleagues. “I had dust all over me.”
Eight years later, Morales suffered two seizures at work and was diagnosed with advanced brain cancer.
“I’m fearful about everything since 9/11. I was never like that before,” she cried. “I feel that thing just took everything away.”
A version of this story originally appeared on the .
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