The Legacy of World Trade Center Dust

More than 5 years after the World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001, uncertainty and controversy remain about the health risks posed by inhaling the dust from the collapse of the twin towers, the subsequent fires, and the cleanup effort. Dr. Jonathan Samet, Alison Geyh, and Mark Utell discuss the World Trade Center dust and its associated risks. Dr. Robin Herbert, the codirector of the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, discusses the first two waves of adverse health effects that she and her colleagues have seen since September 11 and the cancers that they predict may represent the third wave. More than 5 years after the World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001, uncertainty and controversy remain about the health risks posed by inhaling the dust from the collapse of the twintowers, the subsequent fires, and the cleanup effort. In addition to the matter of the immediate and persistent respiratory effects on “first responders,” occupants of the towers, cleanup workers, and neighborhood residents, concern has arisen about longer-term risks, including the risk of cancer. The level of concern with regard to the respiratory effects of the disaster may well be compounded by the psychological consequences. Already, some responders have . . .