Letter: Thousands still suffering from 9/11 toxins

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Dear Editor,

I was in the World Trade Center on 9/11 when the first hijacked plane was driven into the upper floors of North Tower. Luckily I was on the lower level of the building at the time and escaped unharmed. But souls on the higher floors were trapped and perished, with many more killed when the Towers collapsed.

We all know that as a result of that horrendous attack in New York and at the Pentagon, and the brave passengers who helped bring down a third plane, the 2,996 deaths was the deadliest terrorist attack in human history. But what may not be fully known is the huge number of first responders and survivors who were caught in the debris and the giant toxic dust cloud caused by the massive destruction. The cloud, which consisted of asbestos, silica, concrete, metal and glass particles, was so large that it reached nearly a mile high over Manhattan and Brooklyn and spread to a surrounding area estimated to have exceeded 40 miles. A large number of these folks in the exposure zone suffered both short-term and long-term health problems and even death from the effects of the toxins.

Currently there are about 132,000 responders, cleanup crew workers, lower Manhattan residents and those working in nearby businesses who are being treated for a large and diverse number of illnesses and cancers through a program offered and funded by the World Trade Center Health program.

So, just like on every 9/11 anniversary, we promise to never forget those that perished as a direct result of the attack, we surely need to also remember those many thousands that suffered the long term consequences.

And, of course, every year around this time, I don’t just vividly remember the horror of 9/11, but I also appreciate my luck on that day years ago.

Robert Gordon

Palm Coast