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August 19, 2004
In the days immediately following 9/11, the Bush administration showed reckless disregard for the health of those living near Ground Zero. The government failed to warn the public about health risks from toxic smoke, asbestos and mercury. As a result of the government's negligence, hundreds of people are still sick today – some debilitatingly so.
- The EPA ignored warnings from scientists. On September 12, 2001, a top federal scientist "warned in a strongly worded memo against the quick reoccupation of buildings in lower Manhattan because of possible dangers from asbestos and other toxic materials.” But as soon as September 17, 2001, the administration allowed residents to repopulate lower Manhattan, declaring “their air is safe to breathe and their water is safe.” According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspector General Nikki Tinsley, the administration had “not gathered nearly enough data to make such a sweeping declaration.”
- The White House scrubbed EPA press releases of warnings. For example, a draft EPA press release on September 13, 2001 said the asbestos levels was three times higher than national standards. At the urging of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, that warning was changed to the far more obtuse statement that some areas were "slightly above the 1 percent trigger for defining asbestos material.”
- Residents aren't receiving the long-term care they need. It is essential for those exposed to the contaminants around Ground Zero to receive medical screening and long-term monitoring. Health problems that typically result from exposure to contaminants – such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and immune system disorders – benefit from early detection and treatment. But the federal government program that is supposed to meet the health needs of Ground Zero area residents does not cover this kind of care.
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
