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More Bad News for Ground Zero Rescue and Recovery Workers |
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There is more grim health news for the estimated 40,000 rescue and recovery workers who dug through the deadly rubble and toxic debris at Ground Zero of the World Trade Center. A new survey shows that those workers are developing asthma at 12 times the normal rate for adults.
The study, from the New York City Health Department, shows 3.6 percent of Ground Zero workers report they have developed asthma after working at the site following the Sept. 11 attacks. The study was based on the responses collected by the World Trade Center Health Registry. Some 25,000 of the estimated 40,000 rescue workers have registered with the group.
According to the study:
The risk was significantly elevated for fire and rescue workers, medical workers, and police and military personnel compared to volunteers.
The study found that workers who arrived at the disaster site on the day of the attack and stayed more than 90 days reported the highest rate of new asthma—7 percent. Firefighters accounted for roughly 14 percent of the reported cases.
Says Thomas Frieden, New York City’s health commissioner:
The dust from the World Trade Center collapse appears to have had significant respiratory health effects at least for people who worked at the site.
Last fall, a study by Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City found that 70 percent of the Ground Zero workers suffered lung ailments and other problems from their exposure to “a complex list of toxic chemicals” from asbestos to jet fuel to PCBs.
We’ve previously reported how the Bush administration sought to cover up the toxic and chemical hazards workers faced at Ground Zero and how the Bush administration assured New Yorkers the air in proximity to the World Trade Center debris was safe.
One of those rescue workers who toiled in the hazardous debris is emergency medical technician Reggie Cervantes who, since, has developed pulmonary fibrosis.
Earlier this month, former New York City Mayor and Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani—whose lung health seems to be just fine—claimed:
I was at Ground Zero as often, if not more, than most of the workers…I was one of them.
Needless to say that enraged the real rescue and recovery workers, including Cervantes who posted her reply to Giuliani on YouTube. Rudy has since backed away from those comments.
3 Comments
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This is very, very sad, and it deeply troubles me that our government officials are in such denial about the dangers of the disaster site. Let’s face it. We cannot expect any good will to come out of this current government. We, as a people and as a nation appear to be entirely on our own.
I suppose Americans will be less willing to volunteer support toward rescue and recovery the next time disaster strikes. The real problem is when fire and rescue workers, medical workers, and police and military personnel fail to put themselves in harm’s way should something happen like that, again. Would you, if you knew that your government was not going to provide medical care for your health recovery?
Every Union member that thinks Giuliani is one of the heros of 9/11 should view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaCYEEO-58I
Rudy, stop using the firefighters as a photo-op! Start telling the truth.
To My Brothers and Sisters who still live
When the Roll is called up yonder,
Of all the workers who have died.
Will my name be among them?
So my heart will fill with pride.
I am a Union Member in life and when I am Dead;
So every April 28 I want to hear my name be read.
I died because of the job, so remember me by name.
Correct the unsafe condition; I do not want the Fame.
I was proud of being union all the time I was alive.
I want to stay union even if my body won’t survive.
Let my death be an example to those who still live.
Be Safe and Healthy is the message I would give.
We just came to work here we didn’t come here to die.
With Solidarity in my heart I will never say Good-bye.
Thousand of us each year meet this tragic fate.
Safety first, last and always before it is to Late!
David Hurlburt CWA Local 9410
My Brothers and Sisters in the labor movement in General Died on that day. The firefighters, police, flight attendants pilots and the broadcast technician on top of the twin towers. The members of my Union CWA, port authority employees and police died that day. The flight attendants members of AFA/CWA died that day. I will never forget and all of us need to remind government that as Mother Jones said “pray for the dead but fight like hell for the living.” We must not let this stand!!