WTC health program won’t cover 9/11 responders for cancer

Veterans Today reported that Dr. John Howard, director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, said, “There are inadequate published scientific and medical findings that a causal link exists between September 11 exposures and the occurrence of cancer in responders and survivors. The decision forms part of the first periodic review of what the James Zagroda 9/11 Health and Compensation Act will provide.”

In response to this outrageous statement, which is based more on money than science, let me quote from my article, 9/11’s second round of slaughter, based on the documentary film by Heidi Dehncke, Dust to Dust: the health effects of 9/11. The film is linked in my article. Here’s what the top-of-the-line documentarian supered on the screen as to what was in the air that day that the first responders were tossed in the pit and were inhaling . . .

• Some of 2,500 contaminants erupted from the explosions of the World Trade Center towers, Tower Seven and the two, fuel-laden jetliners, turning into a toxic gray dust that hung in the air as well as settled in people’s lungs and on area streets, vehicles, buildings and residences, both outside and inside the city for months.
• Specifically, there were over 400 tons of asbestos that once inhaled in any quantity cannot be expelled by the lungs and can cause cancer.
• There were 90,000 liters of jet fuel containing benzene, a carcinogen that suppresses the immune system and causes leukemia (blood cancer).
• There was Mercury from over 500,000 fluorescent lights that are toxic to the nervous system and damaging especially to the kidneys.
• There were 200,000 pounds of lead and cadmium from personal computers that are toxic to the respiratory track, especially damaging to kidneys.
• There were polycystic aromatic hydrocarbons that cause lung, laryngeal and throat cancers.
• There were 130,000 gallons of transformer oil with PCBs that cause serious skin rashes and liver damage.
• There was Crystalline Silica from 420,000 tons of concrete, sheetrock and glass (tiny particulates that lodge in heart, causing ischemic heart disease) . . . and so on and on and on, Dr. Howard.

The bill named after deceased Police Officer James Zagroda

In the Dust to Dust film, Detective John Zagroda describes an incident in which his son, James, a police officer as well, already suffering from a severe cough, stopped a lieutenant who was carrying five respirators. He asked for one. The lieutenant told him, “Sorry, can’t do, these are for the brass.” That is, there was no protection like bona fide respirators, only paper masks seldom worn, provided to most all first responders. On top of that Mayor Rudy Giuliani pushed the workers for round the clock work to finish the job in eight months when he had 28 months to get the job done. This so America’s biggest crime scene was emptied before a real forensic examination.

Thus, the young Zagroda died one morning on the floor of a bedroom in his home as a result of respiratory disease as his child slept on the bed in an above room, and his father discovered him. This is one of the most powerful moments of the Dust to Dust film, seeing this hulk of a man turn speechless with tears.

We also meet Michael Brown, former director of FEMA, who gave Ground Zero a clear bill of health for first responders to work in. Yet a truth-telling Hugh Kaufman, engineer/investigator criticized the EPA and its administrator Christine Todd Whitman, who consistently told New York and the world there was “No reason for the general public to be concerned.” How about her as the reason?

Of course, we see George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Colin Powell, grandstanding without facemasks, to make sure no one asks for one or uses even the meager paper masks that were available, which were practically useless.

We also meet Dr. Stephen Levin, head of the Mount Sinai Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Levin tells how he and his colleagues could see early on that these people were being exposed to cancer-causing materials that would end in disaster. This as Whitman reassured everyone that we were “Not getting elevated levels causing concern,” at least not her concern.

Nikki Tinsley, the former inspector general of the EPA, complained that there was no adequate access to get in to evaluate the situation and no electricity to see it, nor equipment and/or analysts to analyze it. By 9/13 the inadequate ambient air samples led the EPA to claim the air was “Below levels of concern.” Yet, many contaminants were simply not tested for.

Robert Martin, former ombudsman of the EPA, said, “You can’t find what you don’t look for. This is true. The agency could have done a much better job of looking.” This as Christy Whitman was repeating, “From a real health problem, we don’t have to worry.” Of course, we can’t lay it all on her because initial and ongoing statements were not based on science, but rather on White House policy.

Ironically, the man who was appointed by George W. Bush as head of The White House Environmental Council, James Connaughton, formerly represented large corporations like ARCO in disputes about cleaning up toxic waste sites. Adding insult to injury, he had formerly worked against the EPA.

So, as usual, the crime starts at the top. And as Cate Jenkins, a science PhD for the EPA, and Nikki Tinsley, point out, the press releases that were written by the EPA were then rewritten by the hush-it-up White House. One 9/11 press release that began “EPA Initiating Response Activities: Testing Terrorized Sites for Environmental Hazards” changed to “EPA Initiating Response Activities: Reassures Public about Environmental Hazards.” That’s the difference between life and death.

And on 9/14, this following statement started out reading “samples . . . showed levels of asbestos ranging from 2.1 percent to 3.3 percent . . .” (The EPA concedes a 1 percent level as a definition for asbestos-contaminating material.)

Thus the top line was changed to “samples contained small percentages of asbestos . . . slightly above the 1 percent trigger for defining asbestos material.” The difference between the numbers, from 1 percent to 2.1 percent to 3.3 percent is enough to seriously hurt or kill you, and from cancer given repeated exposure. So the numbers cribbing was criminal as well.

Firefighters’ radiation cancers “off the scale”

To boot, the headline above come from Veterans Today. The articles that follow read “Radiation Cancers Kill 345 So Far.” “9/11 Firefighters Are Getting Cancer at a Faster Rate than Others, Chief Medical Officer Reveals.” Since I quoted my article in depth, let me quote you some material from that last article in depth from the Daily Mail Reporter . . .

“Firefighters who recovered bodies at Ground Zero are developing cancer at a faster rate than those who worked before the atrocity, medical officials have revealed.

“A seven-year study by the New York Fire Department has claimed that there are ‘unusual rises’ in the number of cancer cases among firefighters who worked in the aftermath of 9/11.

“Some types of cancer among 9/11 firefighters are even ‘bizarrely off the charts,’ according to sources who have seen the as-yet-undisclosed federal-funded study.

“Dr. David Prezant, the Fire Department’s chief medical officer, has reportedly said that cancer cases across ‘all ranks’ of the FDNY who worked at Ground Zero are ‘up significantly.’

“It is thought that the report—due to be officially disclosed in time for the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks in September—cites unusual rises in leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma [all cancers].

“The report also states increases in esophageal, prostate and thyroid cancers.

“Although officials have yet to confirm the increase, sources who attended a recent steering-committee meeting said Dr. Prezant’s report will document the cancer increase . . .

“Minutes of the meeting quote Prezant as saying that ‘we have completed our seven-year cancer study’ and that he planned to present it to the fire unions.

“A doctor from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is said to have asked Dr. Prezant: ‘In the past, you mentioned about the rates before being somewhat similar—what led to the change that you noted the increase?’

Prezant “said researchers have compiled medical records for three years and had access to state cancer registries, though New York’s is three years behind.”

Dr. Prezant reportedly told the group: “Those things keep adding cases.”

“The report would be the first to document a cancer-rate increase among rescue and recovery workers.

“The city recently settled lawsuits by 10,000 WTC workers, more than 600 of whom have developed cancer.

“But officials have so far insisted there is no scientific proof that Ground Zero smoke and dust caused cancer.” Isn’t that amazing?

“An FDNY spokesman gave a statement for Dr. Prezant, saying: ‘The study is ongoing, and no conclusions have been reached on whether cancer rates have increased for firefighters. . . . ’” There’s always a politician in the crowd.

Yet, “Al Hagan, head of the fire-officers union, told the New York Post: ‘I’m led to believe that the numbers for those cancers across all ranks in the Fire Department of people who worked at Ground Zero is up significantly, and we’re all very concerned about it, as are our families.’”

Steve Cassidy, president of the firefighters union, said “Ground Zero’s ‘toxic stew’ has proven lethal.”

He said: “It’s a fact that New York City firefighters are dying of cancer in record numbers.

“We have buried 10 firefighters in just the last 15 weeks, seven with cancer. On Sept. 10, 2001, they were young, healthy firefighters.

“In 2007, doctors at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, which monitors World Trade Center rescue workers, noted blood cancers like multiple myeloma, which normally strikes in the 60s or 70s, were being found in relatively young officers.

“The New York state Health Department has confirmed that 345 Ground Zero workers have died of various cancers as of June 2010.”

Okay, so what does it take Dr. Howard to get the message? President Obama signed the $4.2 billion legislation in January setting aside funds for this health care via the Victim’s Compensation Fund for those who jumped into hell to help clear the rubble and search for human remains at Ground Zero on 9/11. Are we now trying to exact some more budget cuts at the cost of first responder flesh and blood?

Dr. Howard went on to say, “As new research and findings are released, we will continue to do periodic reviews of cancer” for the program. The next review is expected in early to mid-2012. Mid-2012, why? To watch more men die?

We have the evidence now! We don’t want people to die so Howard can rack up some savings for the VCF on their lives? Even the sponsors of the Zadroga Act are disappointed in Dr. Howard and his seemingly spurious claim of not enough evidence to link to cancer.

In fact, Here is a NY1.com link to a recent segment with the new head of the VCT, Sheila Birnbaum, titled Eligibility Concerns Overshadow Meeting on 9/11 Health Fund. Don’t be too shocked by the former policeman speaking.

Sponsors of the act speak out

Sponsors of the act, Democratic Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler and Republican Rep. Peter King, who wrote the bill, called it “disappointing news for 9/11 responders and survivors who tragically have been diagnosed with cancer since the attacks and are suffering day to day and awaiting help.”

Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer also spoke out, “So many people have gotten such rare cancers—and at such young ages—that it seems obvious there must be a link.” Yes, Senator Schumer it is more than obvious, except to those whose sight doesn’t link to their intelligence but to an accounting sheet.

Schumer labeled the report ‘premature’ and even said revision will “demonstrate that those who were exposed to the witches’ brew of toxins at Ground Zero have developed serious illnesses, including ‘cancer,’ and deserve justice.’” In fact, well over 900 first responders have died over the past 10 years from various illnesses, the number still rising towards 1,000. This is some 10^th anniversary gift for those families seeking help for their first responder loved ones with cancer.

Jerry Mazza is a freelance writer, life-long resident of New York City. An EBook version of his book of poems “State Of Shock,” on 9/11 and its after effects is now available at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. He has also written hundreds of articles on politics and government as Associate Editor of Intrepid Report (formerly Online Journal). Reach him at gvmaz@verizon.net.