Increased Cancer May be the Latest Results From 9/11
As if the tragic events of 9/11 were not bad enough, there may be even more bad news to follow. Recent reports have shown there is a rise in cancer reports from firefighters who responded to the World Trade Center tragedy. The increase in cancer issues with the responding firefighters is believed to be due to the exposure to toxins such as dust and fumes.
The study was done to establish whether firefighters who were on the scene that fateful day were, now because of it, at a greater risk. The research was done comparing firefighters who were at ground zero, and those who were not. Between the two groups, there was an almost 20 percent greater likelihood of developing cancer, for the firemen and women who responded to the World Trade Center site, that day. The published reports state that this heightened level of cancer among firefighters who were at ground zero happened during the initial seven years following the tragedy.
About the Study
Obviously, the study was conducted in a timeframe that would exclude the possibility of including cancer patients who, more than likely, had cancer already. This means, those who had it already, during 9/11, but had not yet been diagnosed. These findings came as a bit of a surprise since, typically, the time span between exposure and resulting cancer is more than a decade, if not decades.
These surprising results led many experts to believe the amount and type of contaminants within the dust are what made this such a speedy process. In other words, it is quite possible the chemicals within the dust acted as an accelerator as a cancer-causing agent. Unfortunately, this includes materials like asbestos and jet fuel.
Some Other Things to Keep in Mind
These are, of course, initial studies. One thing researchers point out is that, the types of cancers vary. Once divided into their proper category, the increase may not seem as drastically great. There will need to be a great deal of follow up time, to determine what the studies mean and if the results are what the reports predict.
One reason this is so important to understand and continue to study, is the impact it has on medical coverage. Following the events of that day, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was developed. The problem is, as the bill stands now, cancer is not included in the coverage. Therefore, making the link between the toxic dust and, potentially, resulting cancer is crucial to getting coverage for these firefighters.
Though it is a tragedy that cancer was not originally included, some say there was no way to predict that cancer could be one of the resulting ailments the firefighters suffered. The bottom line, though, is that it will take more time and more research to be able to prove a link in the rise in cancer as an effect of the toxins present at Ground Zero. Hopefully though, this can happen before too many are diagnosed and forced to cover expenses from their own pocket or by draining their own health insurance benefits.