9/11 Asbestos Exposure and Long-Term Mesothelioma Risk

Author: Ian C. Langtree - View Credentials
Published: 8 Oct 2009 - Updated: 3 Oct 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information looks at the asbestos released when the World Trade Center towers collapsed on September 11, 2001, and what that exposure may mean for the long-term health of the people who breathed it in. An estimated 2,000 tons of asbestos were still inside the buildings on the day of the attacks, and some estimates put the number of people exposed to the resulting dust cloud at 600,000, among them first responders, office workers, volunteers and residents of lower Manhattan. Because mesothelioma can take up to 50 years to appear after asbestos fibers are first inhaled, many of those people may not yet know they are affected, which is why the article's account of how the fibers damage the lungs and the mesothelium, and its call for continued screening, remain useful. It is of particular interest to aging responders and survivors, many of whom are now seniors or living with chronic respiratory illness and disability linked to that day.

At a Glance

• 1 - A shirt worn by one worker at the Twin Towers was later found to carry 93,000 times more asbestos than the average air concentration in major cities.
• 2 - Asbestos was not the only hazard in the dust cloud. Heavy metals including mercury, zinc, lead and barium were also present, and the particulate matter lingered in the air and on surfaces for weeks.
• 3 - Original construction estimates called for 5,000 tons of asbestos fireproofing in the Twin Towers. Builders stopped using asbestos-containing insulation after completing 64 of the 110 stories, once the health risks became better understood.
• 4 - In 2008, the New York State Department of Health estimated that 200 people had died as a result of pollutants or other problems at Ground Zero, at least 55 of them from lung cancer. Some 62 percent of those exposed to the dust reported respiratory problems.

Topic Definition

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the mesothelium, the thin protective membrane that lines the chest cavity, abdomen and the space around the heart. It is almost always caused by asbestos, whose microscopic, needle-like fibers can be inhaled or swallowed when the material is disturbed and then lodge in soft tissue, where they cause damage over many years. The disease is known for its long latency period, typically surfacing decades after exposure, which is why people who were present at Ground Zero on and after September 11, 2001, are still considered at risk today.

Overview

Although the devastation caused by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11 still cannot be put into words, some of the most devastating long-term consequences are still being revealed. Numerous cases of mesothelioma, a rare yet insidious cancer which is almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure, may still be in store for the first responders to those attacks and the general population of lower Manhattan and surrounding boroughs.

Asbestos, a naturally occurring fibrous mineral, has been used in myriad construction applications, especially fireproofing and insulation applications. The initial estimates for the construction of the Twin Towers, which were built between 1966-1971, called for 5,000 tons of asbestos to be used as fireproofing materials. As the hazards and health risks of asbestos began to be understood, however, the builders of the Twin Towers ceased using asbestos-containing insulation. At that point they had completed 64 stories of the 110-story skyscrapers. Some of the asbestos material was abated from the site, but at the time of the 9/11 attacks, it is estimated that 2,000 tons of asbestos remained within the buildings.

The problem with asbestos is that its fibers, when destroyed or disturbed, can become airborne, where they are easily inhaled or ingested. These fibers, although microscopic, are sharp and needle-like and can penetrate the body's soft tissues. Especially vulnerable are the lungs, the pleural cavity, and a special membrane called the mesothelium, which protects the lungs, heart and abdominal area. Asbestos is a carcinogen, and can lead to malignant mesothelioma as well as other diseases.

As anyone who was near the WTC when the towers collapsed - or who saw the footage on television - knows, there were thick clouds of pollution and debris covering the lower end of Manhattan like a fog. The location of the towers, which soon after the attacks became known as Ground Zero, was covered in debris and dust. Some estimates put the number of people exposed to this toxic fog of contaminants at 600,000. Included among these contaminants were not only asbestos but heavy metals such as mercury, zinc, lead and barium. The particulate matter lingered in the air and on surfaces for weeks after the tragedy. The shirt worn by one worker at the Twin Towers was later found to have 93,000 times more asbestos than the average air concentration in major cities.

At a particularly high level of exposure, of course, were the people who escaped the collapsing buildings as well as the first responders who rushed toward them in a valiant attempt to help.

Although some of the first responders, such as the many firefighters who were summoned to the scene, were equipped with respirators and protective clothing, the majority of people - onlookers, police, health-care providers, volunteers and employees of the WTC's many companies and businesses who were trying to escape the catastrophe - did not have any such protection.

Exposure to asbestos, especially repeated exposure or high levels of exposure, has been directly linked to mesothelioma cancer. One of the most troublesome aspects of mesothelioma is its long latency period, which means that afflicted people do not exhibit symptoms of the disease until years or possibly even decades after the exposure. An individual can live with mesothelioma and have no idea, until a diagnosis is eventually made, up to 50 years after first inhaling the asbestos fibers. Because mesothelioma can take decades to appear, the full number of responders, rescue personnel and bystanders affected is still not known.

Since the symptoms of mesothelioma - difficulty breathing, wheezing or coughing, chest pain - are often difficult to distinguish from other, more common lung ailments, the number of 9/11 victims suffering with mesothelioma may be tricky to estimate. Yet there are some statistics concerning the health problems of those who were at the scene of the terrorist attacks.

There are some options for mesothelioma treatment, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and palliative care. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the better chances are that treatment will be effective, so if you or someone you love was on the scene at Ground Zero at the time of the attacks or shortly thereafter, please let your doctor know immediately so that you can be screened for the deadly cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the World Trade Center Health Program?

The World Trade Center Health Program is a federal program administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, part of the CDC. It provides medical monitoring and treatment at no cost for certified 9/11-related health conditions in eligible responders and survivors.

Is mesothelioma covered by the World Trade Center Health Program?

Yes. Mesothelioma is on the program's list of covered cancers, which was added in 2012. For certification, the program applies a minimum latency period of 11 years between a person's first 9/11 exposure and the mesothelioma diagnosis.

What is the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund?

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund pays financial compensation to people, or the families of people, who became ill or died from a 9/11-related condition. Legislation signed in 2019 extended the fund so that claims can be filed until October 2090.

Who counts as a 9/11 survivor for health program purposes?

Survivors are people who were not responders but lived, worked, attended school or were in child or adult day care in the New York City disaster area. That area covers Manhattan south of Houston Street and parts of Brooklyn within a 1.5 mile radius of the World Trade Center site.

What are the different types of mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is classified by where it starts. Pleural mesothelioma, in the lining around the lungs, is the most common form, followed by peritoneal mesothelioma in the lining of the abdomen, with pericardial and testicular forms being very rare.

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosis usually begins with imaging such as a chest X-ray or CT scan to look for fluid or thickening in the lining of the chest or abdomen. A biopsy, in which a tissue sample is examined under a microscope, is needed to confirm the disease.

What other diseases can asbestos exposure cause?

Besides mesothelioma, asbestos exposure can cause asbestosis, a scarring of lung tissue, as well as lung cancer and cancers of the larynx and ovary. It can also lead to non-cancerous changes in the lining of the lungs, such as pleural plaques, thickening and fluid buildup.

Does smoking increase the risk of mesothelioma?

Smoking has not been shown to raise the risk of mesothelioma on its own. However, people who smoke and have also been exposed to asbestos face a much higher risk of lung cancer than either factor would produce alone.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: What makes the Ground Zero exposure so troubling is how little stood between most people and the dust. Some firefighters had respirators and protective clothing, but police officers, health care workers, volunteers, onlookers and the office workers fleeing the buildings generally had nothing at all. Add to that the fact that the early signs of mesothelioma - shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, chest pain - look much like ordinary lung complaints, and it is easy to see how cases can be missed or counted late. Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and palliative care are all options, and they work best when the cancer is caught early, so anyone who was at or near the site during the attacks or the cleanup that followed should make sure their doctor knows it, however many years have passed.

Author Credentials: Ian C. Langtree is a writer, editor, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, which he established in 2004 as one of the longest-running independent resources for disability news and information. Over more than two decades, he has written and edited thousands of articles on disability rights, health, accessibility, and assistive technology. Drawing on a global perspective shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed advocate of the Social Model of Disability, the framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that focuses on removing societal barriers rather than on individual impairments. His writing is grounded in that framework and in a lasting commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.