Twenty-five years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a deadly health crisis stemming from exposure to World Trade Center dust continues to claim lives and affect survivors, first responders, and residents. The World Trade Center Health Program has linked approximately 57,000 cancer cases directly to the toxic debris that blanketed New York City.
Dr. Marc Siegel, who responded to Bellevue Hospital on 9/11 and later visited the disaster site, recounted the immediate awareness of potential health risks. "We knew there were potentially serious health risks," Siegel wrote. "We knew the molten debris and toxins were a problem. We knew that there would be health risks and consequences from the terror attacks for generations to come."
Dr. Siegel noted that cases have escalated significantly, with a 75% jump in cancer cases linked to 9/11 toxic debris between 2023 and 2025. The incidence of lung cancer has doubled in just five years. Cancers of the skin, prostate, breast, and thyroid, as well as lymphomas, are among the most common diagnoses.
Data indicates that more than 9,000 people have died from health-related effects attributed to 9/11, a number that surpasses those who died in the attacks themselves. Patients treated by Siegel have suffered from a range of conditions, including GERD, asthma, PTSD, and various cancers, with many living in the surrounding neighborhoods seeking answers for their symptoms.
The World Trade Center Health Program provides monitoring and screening, including CT scans of the chest, for affected individuals. Siegel stated that the program has been instrumental in managing his patients who have experienced long-term health consequences from their exposure.
While acknowledging recent discussions and the release of documents by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani concerning potential cover-ups, Siegel emphasized that medical professionals and the public were aware of the risks at the time. He stated, "We knew." The extent of the long-term impact, however, proved to be far greater than initially anticipated by patients, doctors, and public health officials alike.
