More than 145,000 People Still Sick, and Nearly 10,000 Have Already Died, from September 11-Related Illnesses

Thousands of people who worked, lived, or went to school near Ground Zero are struggling with lingering, debilitating illness

NEED TO KNOW

• Over 145,000 people are receiving treatment for illnesses linked to the September 11 attacks, including cancer and respiratory issues
• Nearly 6,000 have died of cancer and 10,000 from other illnesses tied to toxic exposure after the attacks
• The World Trade Center Health Program was created in 2010 to support affected first responders and survivors

More than 145,000 people are still being treated for health issues caused by the September 11 attacks.

Cancer is the primary illness affecting first responders and survivors, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s World Trade Center Health Program. More than 57,000 are being treated for cancer; the cases are nearly evenly split between 28,131 responders and 28,913 survivors. The primary cancer is non-melanoma skin cancer, followed by prostate cancer and breast cancer.

More than 42,000 have chronic rhinosinusitis, which is long-term inflammation of the nasal passages that the National Library of Medicine says is linked to “dust, gases, and toxicants.” Nearly 40,000 are being treated for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), while 23,000 are being treated for asthma. About 18,000 struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The data only covers people currently being treated; since the September 11 attacks coated New York City — and its people — in dust and fumes, nearly 6,000 first responders and residents have died of cancer, and nearly 10,000 have died of other illnesses linked to the attacks, per the New York Post, citing data from the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.

The data comes on the heels of recently released documents about the air quality in New York City in the weeks — and months —  following the attacks. Asbestos, a known carcinogen, was still being detected a half mile from the site ten months after the attacks, per The New York Times. 

“On Friday, we will mark 25 years since the worst tragedy ever to befall our city, the darkest day New York City has ever known,” New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani said when releasing the documents, per the outlet. “And yet the devastating truth is that the suffering did not end once the smoke cleared and the dust settled.”

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“People got sick because the leaders they trusted lied and told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air,” Mamdani said.

The World Trade Center Health Program was established under President Barack Obama after he signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 into law. The bill was named after New York City Police Department Detective James Zadroga, who died of a respiratory condition in 2006 — which was believed to be connected to his time at Ground Zero.

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