Updated June 2007- Thousands of rescue workers that responded to the World Trade Center disaster are now struggling with serious respiratory and gastrointestinal problems, rare cancers, and emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. A number of others have died from serious health complications.
Over 5,000 active and retired FDNY firefighters are receiving medical treatment from illnesses connected with the World Trade Center disaster. The FDNY had around 11,000 members on duty on September 11, 2001; the number of workers that need medical assistance is becoming very large.
The deaths of three New York detectives have been linked by families and some doctors to the toxic dust at ground zero. Doctors are concerned that the numbers of cases like these will continue to grow. But experts say that these illnesses and deaths have not been conclusively linked to the contaminated dust.
The dust at ground zero contained asbestos, dioxin, benzene, and numerous other noxious pollutants. This dust rose up and covered everything for blocks after the collapse. The rescue workers in New York were not required to use respirators. Many of them only had paper masks protecting their faces.
Over 8,000 people are suing the New York City for negligence. In this case medical examiners will be attempting to prove that the dust from the trade center caused life-threatening diseases.