The events of September 11, 2001 shook our country to its very core and tested the resiliency of the nation as a whole. In addition to the 3,000 lives lost in the terrorist attacks which downed airplanes in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and New York, many more passed away from the clean-up effort in downtown Manhattan because they were exposed to toxic particles in the debris.
What many people do not realize is that the World Trade Centers were built with 20 stories of asbestos which spread through the air as the Twin Towers came crashing down. To date, over 200 people were killed and half a million made sick by inhaling some of the 2,000 tons of asbestos that went airborne.
The amount of asbestos released in the collapse was enough to fill the equivalent of 182 school buses and made the air 112,000 times more contaminated with asbestos than the federal legal limit for buildings. Sources further estimate there has been an almost 20% increase in first responders who developed cancer as a result of the rescue and cleanup efforts.
Has the Asbestos from the World Trade Center Caused People to Develop Mesothelioma?
Asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma, a deadly and aggressive form of lung cancer which affects thin linings of tissue around the lungs and abdomen. There is currently no cure for mesothelioma, but proper treatment can ease symptoms and hopefully prolong the lifespan for those who develop the disease.
Mesothelioma often takes decades to develop, usually between 20 to 50 years. As we mark the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, it becomes more and more likely thousands of individuals exposed to the Twin Towers’ asbestos during the rescue and cleanup effort could show signs of the disease.
Additionally, given just how toxic the air was around Ground Zero it is entirely possible that mesothelioma cases related to the attacks could develop more rapidly. Unfortunately, it seems the effects of that tragic day will continue to linger on for thousands of more Americans even after the cleanup and rebuilding of Ground Zero.
While there have only been a handful of mesothelioma cases allegedly linked to toxic dust at Ground Zero, experts estimate claims to spike very soon. Depending on whether or not these mesothelioma victims accepted compensation from the various funds set up to help survivors, it could impact any possible mesothelioma claims.
Nationwide Mesothelioma Attorneys
For many years, asbestos was used in construction and industrial applications which exposed hundreds of thousands of people to the deadly product. During that time, the manufacturers knew of the dangers asbestos posed to those who came in contact with it but did nothing to warn them.
Fortunately, victims and their families have legal recourse to hold these wrongdoers accountable for their actions by filing asbestos cancer lawsuits to recover compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact a nationwide mesothelioma attorney of The Throneberry Law Group for a consultation about your case.