SCI/TECH: Health Effects of 9/11 Attacks: New GAO Report, page 1

posted on Sep, 8 2004 @ 07:10 PM

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The Government Accountability Office has released the results of their investigation into the health effects in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack. The main reported health problems have been respiratory difficaulties and mental distress.One major respiratory problem experienced by emergency workers is now known as WTC cough. Many firefighters have had to end their careers because they are suffering with this condition.
A survey of 300 pregnant women who were close to the twin towers when they were attacked showed that they were more likely to give birth to lighter babies.

story.news.yahoo.com
U.S. Report Sees Wide Health Effects of 9-11 Attacks
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most of the health problems reported after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks have involved respiratory difficulties and mental distress, according to a U.S. government report published on Wednesday.

Firefighters and other emergency workers showed long-term respiratory problems, including a syndrome called "WTC cough."
A separate study published on Wednesday also showed subtle but significant effects on pregnant women and their babies.
The hijacked plane attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center created infernos that enveloped much of New York in a pall of smoke and dust loaded with toxic chemicals. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks and a similar one on the Pentagon (news - web sites) in Washington.
"The primary health effects include various injuries, respiratory conditions, and mental health effects," the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, said in a report summarizing the health problems.
"In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the primary injuries were inhalation and musculoskeletal injuries," said the report, published on the Web at www.gao.gov.
"A range of respiratory conditions have also been reported, including wheezing, shortness of breath, sinusitis, asthma, and a new syndrome called WTC cough, which consists of persistent cough accompanied by severe respiratory symptoms," it said.
'Almost all the firefighters who responded to the attack experienced respiratory effects, and hundreds had to end their firefighting careers due to WTC-related respiratory illness."
The GAO said six separate registries had been set up to monitor reports of health problems following the attacks.

"Some long-term health effects, such as lung cancer, may not appear until several decades after a person has been exposed to a harmful agent," it said.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

The long term respiratory dangers posed by exposure to the massive dust clouds produced by the collapse of the WTC are as yet unknown. Funding for research on the health effects of those exposed to this cloud run out in 2009. Possible health effects such as lung cancer will probably not begin to present themselves until after 2009. This is a problem that needs to be urgently addressed.

[edit on 9-9-2004 by Valhall]

clearmind

posted on Sep, 8 2004 @ 09:23 PM

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let me recite the govt line.....'nothing to see here folks...move along ..move along. no problems will be reported..err..i'm mean..there are no problems here. oh, and if you keep looking into this..we will arrest you because you must be up to no good.'

curme

posted on Sep, 8 2004 @ 11:17 PM

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Bush wanted to open Wall St. up ASAP, to heck what the EPA said!