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Asbestos Poses Lethal Risk To World Trade Centre Survivors |
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Written by Tom Doerr
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Saturday, 13 March 2010 08:27 |
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In 2001 terrorist crashed two hijacked planes into the Word Trade Centre Towers in New York killing over 3,000 people, however the death toll is set to rise as lethal bi-product remains fatal to surviving New Yorkers. The suspect in question is Asbestos, a fireproofing agent that was used during much of the construction of the towers in the early 1970s.
by TomDoerr
In 2001 terrorist crashed two hijacked planes into the Word Trade Centre Towers in New York killing over 3,000 people, however the death toll is set to rise as lethal bi-product remains fatal to surviving New Yorkers. The suspect in question is Asbestos, a fireproofing agent that was used during much of the construction of the towers in the early 1970s.
The buildings were fireproofed throughout their construction but it was by the time builders had completed the 40th floors that asbestos was banned and alternatives were used. Despite the ban there was no rule forcing builders to remove existing material, of which the cost was estimated at more than the value of the buildings themselves.
When the terrorists hijacked the aircraft and crashed them into the towers the subsequent collapse of the buildings released hundreds of tonnes of the toxic material into the air which remained present for over 5 weeks. The dust eventually settled but it covered most of downtown Manhattan including air conditioning systems, buildings, furniture and walls, most of which are permanently contaminated.
Even before the area was declared safe thousands of people had already been exposed but as a result of the first responders, workers and local residents returning too early the risk of contamination were very high. Studies have revealed that 76% of those who returned to the area before it was ultimately safe have already developed serious respiratory problems.
Around 100,000 people have reportedly been exposed to toxic materials which can cause a variety of lethal diseases such as Asbestosis, Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma. But this number does not include those who have visited and left New York since the attacks which could be much higher.
Deborah Reeve, a New York Fire Official died in 2006 from Mesothelioma and was declared the latest fatality of the attacks and the first as a direct result of exposure to asbestos. Although this was the first case, experts believe many more will emerge in the coming decades.
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