9/11 injuries, trauma, aftermath diseases caused more deaths over the years than the tragedy itself

September 11, 2001, commonly referred to as 9/11, was one of the darkest days in the history of the United States of America when barbaric terrorist attacks changed the political landscape of the country. 

Not just the country, but the entire world was shocked after watching devastating footage when two massive 110-storey towers known as the World Trade Centre (WTC) collapsed less than two hours after the attacks.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed after Al-Qaeda terrorists flew hijacked planes and crashed them into the WTC towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington and another into a field in Pennsylvania. 

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The tragedies left an everlasting impact on the bereaved families and also caused health-related problems to the survivors and rescuers years after the disaster. 

Researchers have documented the physical and mental health effects which have directly been linked to the disaster. One such was published in the US National Library of Medicine in 2019, which was a call for articles on "Long-Term Health Effects of the 9/11 Disaster".

After the towers collapsed, they released tonnes of dust, gases and debris causing health problems among persons directly exposed. The articles shed light upon the physical and mental health disorders that continue to plague thousands of people years after the tragedy and also talk about the newly identified conditions emerging as a result of prolonged disease latency. 

The articles revealed that "respiratory and lung problems are among the most prevalent and highly persistent physical health problems" arising from 9/11 exposure to dust clouds from the collapsing building and the subsequent re-suspension of dust. Firefighters with high-intensity exposure on 9/11 had an increased risk of bronchial wall thickening, emphysema and air trapping. 

Findings further revealed a condition known as sarcoidosis and sarcoid-like granulomatous, which is a rare autoimmune disease that can affect any organ. "Among rescue, recovery, clean-up workers, it has been previously reported as a granulomatous disease involving the thoracic organs, primarily among firefighters or other rescues, recovery, or clean-up workers arriving early at the WTC site."

(Image: In this file photo taken on September 11, 2001, smoke billows after the first of the two towers of the World Trade Center collapses. Source: AFP)

Other long-term adverse health outcomes of WTC-related exposure include neurological conditions and cancer, emerging conditions including peripheral neuropathy, paresthesia and thyroid cancer. 

A high prevalence of adverse mental health, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has also been documented among the 9/11 survivors.

"Apart from functionality and physical loss, there is concern that persons exposed to 9/11 could be at greater risk of cognitive impairment, memory loss, or confusion at a faster rate than would be expected normally with age," a part of the study read. 

More deaths from 9/11-linked illnesses than in attack?

More people are believed to have died from illnesses related to 9/11 than were killed on the actual day of the Al-Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington, according to a report published on Tuesday (September 7). 

The September 11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) has received more than 67,000 claims since it reopened in 2011.

Nearly 3,900 of those claims were filed on behalf of someone who is alleged to have died of a 9/11-related illness, the VCF said in a report.

"That means that the number of people believed to have died of a 9/11-related illness subsequent to 9/11 has now exceeded the number of people who died on 9/11," said Rupa Bhattacharyya, the "special master" who administers the fund.

"More people are now believed to have died of 9/11-related illnesses than were lost on September 11, 2001," she said.

Nearly 50 per cent of those filing claims in recent years have cancer.

(With inputs from agencies)

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