New York releases 170,000 pages on post-9/11 toxic air concerns
Records detail officials’ concerns about toxic exposure, asbestos levels and potential legal liability after the World Trade Centre attacks.
New York City has released 170,000 pages of previously undisclosed records on air quality and health risks following the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the documents showed residents and workers had been misled about the safety of the air around Lower Manhattan. The records were released after a multi-year legal campaign by advocacy groups including 9/11 Health Watch.
An October 2001 memo sent to then-deputy mayor Robert Harding anticipated up to 10,000 lawsuits over toxic exposure and faulty safety equipment. It also considered measures to limit the city’s legal liability, including a victims’ fund and federal indemnification.
A February 2002 memo raised concerns that criticism over asbestos levels could create major public-relations problems and trigger lawsuits. The documents report officials’ concerns and allegations about asbestos contamination, but do not by themselves establish the full extent of any concealment or its direct health consequences.
The collapse of the World Trade Centre spread dust across Lower Manhattan, while fires continued in the rubble and many workers lacked adequate protection. The World Trade Center Health Program says about 4,343 people have since died from illnesses related to the attacks; the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants and other hazards.
Al Jazeera reported that Mamdani has promised further document releases over the next year. The number of additional records and any resulting legal action remain unclear.
