Ground Zero had to be cleared of debris as soon as possible after September 11. There were asbestos fibers, lead, polychlorinated biphenyls, solvents, and combustion byproducts all over the place as a result of the collapse. Early cleanup workers faced intense dust exposure without the proper protective equipment.
Demolition workers faced particular dangers during cleanup and recovery operations:
- Breathing in toxic dust particles when disturbing contaminated materials
- Contact with hazardous building materials and debris
- Working in enclosed areas with high dust concentrations
- Inhaling asbestos fibers and other carcinogens during demolition activities
A large cohort of nearly 12,334 WTC responders showed that those with severe exposure to dust and debris, including demolition and cleanup tasks, had a nearly threefold higher incidence of lung cancer more than a decade after exposure, compared to responders with minimal exposure. This stark difference underscores the particular hazard faced by demolition workers who directly disturbed contaminated materials.
Several cancers were found to be more prevalent among WTC demolition workers, including thyroid, prostate, hematologic, lymphoid, and soft tissue cancers. The latency periods for diseases such as mesothelioma can last up to 60 years post-asbestos exposure, with asbestos being a major cause of both lung cancer and mesothelioma.
There was a high prevalence of respiratory diseases among demolition workers, such as chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, and interstitial lung diseases, such as asbestosis. There is a possibility that symptoms may persist or worsen for years after exposure. Demolition workers often suffer from chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, which often coexists with physical ailments as a result of the traumatic nature of disaster recovery work.
Relevant job titles
- Demolition worker
- Construction worker
- Cleanup worker
- Recovery worker
