December 20th, 2007

A new investigation of asbestos exposure after the attacks of 9/11 are concerning when reviewed. It appears that the levels of asbestos present in apartment units in lower Manhattan may be unsafe.

After the attacks on New York on 9/11, a lingering concern was raised over the debris in the area and the risk it could present to residents. Initial reports stated that the levels of asbestos in lower Manhattan were “very small,” and cleanings were done where needed. What the Environmental Protection Agency did not say at the time was that the low levels of asbestos were after cleanups had been conducted on units being tested. Initial reports also suggest that workers and residents were allowed to return to buildings before they were known to be safe to occupy.

In the aftermath of the attacks, many of the people involved in rescue and recovery came down with respiratory illnesses. More residents in the area are now coming forward with symptoms too. Asbestos exposure can lead to many types of diseases, including asbestosis, emphysema and mesothelioma, a type of deadly lung cancer. Mesothelioma results from asbestos fibers becoming stuck in the lungs, keeping the tissue from absorbing oxygen and slowly suffocating the victim.