Twenty‑five years after the September 11 attacks, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a sharp rise in cancer diagnoses among survivors enrolled in the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program. Roughly half of the 54,000 qualified participants now carry a cancer diagnosis, a three‑fold increase compared with figures from five years earlier.
Why the increase matters
The dust cloud that swept Lower Manhattan after the towers collapsed contained a toxic mix of pulverized building materials, jet‑fuel by‑products, and heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury. The CDC estimates that up to 400,000 people were exposed, including first‑responders, residents, office workers and schoolchildren.
While age‑related cancer risk naturally rises over time, researchers say the pattern of “sentinel cancers” – especially mesothelioma – suggests a direct link to the asbestos‑laden dust. Mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs and abdomen, is considered a hallmark of asbestos exposure.
Expert insights
Dr. Alan Arslan, a cancer epidemiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, describes the disaster as “one of the largest man‑made disasters in U.S. history,” noting the “complex exposure to many, many potential carcinogens, including asbestos.” Dr. Jacqueline Moline, director of the WTC Health Program at Northwell Health, warned that “rates are only going to go up,” calling the trend a foreshadowing of the future cancer burden.
According to the program’s data, 38 mesothelioma cases have been identified among the nearly 155,000 enrollees, an incidence roughly three times higher than in the general population. Dr. Raja Flores of Mount Sinai Health System emphasized that mesothelioma’s long latency—often 25 to 50 years—means more cases are likely to emerge in the coming decades.
Program enrollment trends
The WTC Health Program, launched in 2012, continues to attract new patients at a rate of about 120 per month. While first‑responders initially comprised the majority of enrollees, survivor registrations have now outpaced them. In 2024 and 2025, roughly twice as many survivors as first‑responders joined the program, according to CDC figures.
Dr. Leigh Wilson, director of the World Trade Center Environmental Center, notes that many survivors remain unaware of their eligibility. “It’s very well understood that first responders are eligible, but a lot of survivors don’t realize they are eligible,” she said.
Personal stories illustrate the impact
One survivor, a man who was 23 at the time of the attacks, lived just a few blocks from the towers. He recalled dust coating his apartment for more than a month and reported no other major risk factors—he never smoked and maintained a healthy weight. In 2016, at age 38, he was diagnosed with abdominal‑wall mesothelioma. After aggressive surgery and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, he remained alive at the time of a 2024 study that documented his case.
His experience mirrors a 2024 study that described four mesothelioma patients from the survivor cohort; two of those patients have since died, underscoring the seriousness of the disease.
Looking ahead
Researchers stress the importance of continued monitoring, early detection, and access to specialized care. The WTC Health Program provides comprehensive medical services, including cancer screening, treatment coordination, and mental‑health support, to address both the physical and emotional toll of the disaster.
As the survivor population ages, the program’s role in managing long‑term health consequences becomes increasingly critical. Ongoing federal funding and community awareness are essential to ensure that those who endured the 9/11 dust cloud receive the care they need.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
