December 10th, 2004

The tragedy of 9/11, which saw the World Trade Centre’s twin towers crumble to the ground and countless people lose their lives, was followed by controversy over the air quality following the disaster. Many thought that the government may have tried to cover up the dangers of elevated asbestos levels in the air, although the government claimed that the air was safe.

However, a number of helpers from the 9/11 tragedy are now suing the federal government for lying about the air quality following the attacks. The EPA is named as having made misleading statements about the quality of the air in the lawsuit. Those filing the lawsuit claim that they did not have the proper gear or equipment whilst working at Ground Zero. The plaintiffs state that they were at risk of exposure to asbestos and a number of other dangers.

The actions if being taken by people from all walks of life, including a federal marshal who states that he had to take two months off work due to the side effects of the exposure. Other claimants include correction officers and city paramedics. Legal representatives want the case treated as a class action lawsuit, which would then involve everyone that was sent to work at Ground Zero.

The lawsuit names EPA and Occupational Health and Safety officials as the defendants, as these were the agencies that made claims and statements indicating that the air was perfectly safe and harmless.