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For almost two months after the World Trade Center collapsed, emergency rescue workers searched for survivors in what became known as "The Pile." The destruction of the 9/11 attacks was unprecedented, and the number of deaths and injuries were shocking. According to recent reports, however, the actual death toll is far higher than the reported number, as people continue to die from diseases caused by exposure to the smoke and dust produced by the attacks.
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On the other hand, many program participants have reported breathing problems, most of which were probably caused by an intense inflammatory response to inhaling dust.
The data provided by the WTC Health Program is very useful when it comes to understanding the kinds of diseases that 9/11 survivors have developed.
The types of diseases affecting 9/11 survivors vary greatly, and some people have much better access to treatment than others.
Since 2011, the US government's World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program has provided medical monitoring and treatment to those directly affected by the 9/11 attacks.
Now, over 20 years later, the death toll stands much higher, as people continue to die from diseases attributed to the dust and smoke produced by the attacks.
According to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum website, the September 11 attacks killed 2,977 people and injured thousands at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
There is even evidence that the dust and smoke from the Twin Towers caused cognitive impairment in some of the people who were exposed.
Many of the people most affected by 9/11-related diseases were first responders who arrived on the scene shortly after the attack itself.
Breathing in this toxic air had a huge impact on the health of rescue workers; in 2024, they made up around two-thirds of all WTC Health Program participants.
As a huge cloud of dust and smoke billowed out across Lower Manhattan, over the East River, and into Brooklyn, emergency workers rushed over to help control the scene and rescue survivors.
According to the study that revealed this link, this may have been due to organic neurotoxins that became airborne when the buildings fell.
The air that they breathed was laden with dust, and subsequent research shows that it contained considerable amounts of asbestos, heavy metals, lead, and toxic chemicals.
Data shows that many people involved in 9/11 suffer from respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and painful chronic rhinosinusitis.
As many of the first responders grow older and start to retire, they become more likely to address their health seriously, and mental health is part of that.
Nordstrom's school was just three blocks from the towers, and she believes that the dust she inhaled is the primary cause of her worsening asthma.
Only time will tell, however, what is the actual death toll of 9/11, as people continue to develop a variety of medical conditions as a result of the attacks.
For some people, this has brought important benefits, such as better cancer survival rates.
It was not only rescue workers who were affected. Many members of the public in New York are also starting to develop conditions related to the dust and smoke they inhaled in the wake of 9/11.
In the meantime, first responders and survivors present during 9/11 continue to talk about their experiences as a means of coping with their ongoing struggles.
Sources: (BBC) (911 Memorial & Museum)
See also: What would the US be like today if 9/11 never happened?
Indeed, according to the BBC, cancer survival rates are higher among 9/11 first responders than the general population, due to free medical care and better monitoring.
As previously mentioned, the WTC Health Program provides monitoring and health care for people whose health has been affected by the 9/11 attacks.
For example, Lila Nordstrom was just 17 years old and in a classroom when the Twin Towers started to fall, and dust rushed into her school.
Indeed, people came from all 50 US states and from all over the world to help deal with the fallout of 9/11. The full scale of the problem is, therefore, quite difficult to ascertain.
Moreover, the actual number of rescue workers affected is probably higher, since their number is not only restricted to people in New York.
How 9/11 continues to claim lives
The actual death toll of the September 11 attacks
LIFESTYLE Disease
For almost two months after the World Trade Center collapsed, emergency rescue workers searched for survivors in what became known as "The Pile." The destruction of the 9/11 attacks was unprecedented, and the number of deaths and injuries were shocking. According to recent reports, however, the actual death toll is far higher than the reported number, as people continue to die from diseases caused by exposure to the smoke and dust produced by the attacks.
Check out this gallery to find out more.