Nearly 9,500 individuals have died from illnesses linked to the September 11 attacks, marking an ongoing public health crisis that has persisted for more than two decades. Tomorrow, the names of an additional 345 victims will be added to a memorial wall dedicated to first responders and others affected by the toxic aftermath of the attacks.
The list of those who succumbed to 9/11-related diseases extends beyond firefighters and police officers to include a diverse range of workers such as electricians, nurses, dentists, journalists, and mechanics. These individuals were exposed to a hazardous dust cloud in the days and weeks following the attacks by al-Qaeda operatives led by Osama Bin Laden on the World Trade Center.
John Feal, a demolition expert and advocate who has played a key role in raising awareness and securing support for affected individuals, emphasized that the documented deaths likely represent only part of the overall toll. “There are many more people than that — they’re only the ones we know about. And the numbers are only going to get much worse,” Feal said, warning that the health impacts will continue for decades.
On the day of the attacks, 343 firefighters died instantly, with 451 more losing their lives subsequently from dust-related illnesses. The police force suffered 72 immediate fatalities, with more than 450 additional deaths linked to respiratory and cancer-related diseases afterward. The initial attack claimed a total of 2,977 lives.
Feal, 59, suffered severe injuries shortly after the attacks when a steel beam from the collapsed towers crushed his foot, resulting in multiple surgeries and eventual amputation. Despite his injuries, he has become a prominent voice advocating for the rights of those suffering from 9/11 health conditions. He highlighted that 69 types of cancer have now been officially connected to the exposure, including lung, bladder, skin, and prostate cancers, along with chronic respiratory illnesses.
Criticism has been directed at the federal government’s early response, particularly regarding statements about environmental safety. On September 16, 2001, then-EPA head Christy Todd Whitman declared the air and water around Ground Zero to be safe, a claim that has since been widely disputed. Feal described this pronouncement as reckless and politically motivated, aimed at expediting the reopening of Wall Street and projecting an image of resilience.
The toxic dust released following the collapse contained hazardous substances such as asbestos, lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, crushed concrete, glass fibers, and silica, all of which have contributed to long-term health problems.
Feal, who leads the FealGood Foundation and is affiliated with the Barasch & McGarry Charitable Foundation, was instrumental in establishing the 9/11 Memorial Wall of Remembrance in Nesconset Park, which first opened in 2011 with 400 names. Names continue to be added annually in a ceremony held on the first Saturday after September 11.
Individuals present in Lower Manhattan at the time of the attacks or in the months following are being urged to enroll in the World Trade Center Health Program to receive monitoring and benefits. Feal stressed the importance of registration, urging, “If you don’t want to do it, do it for your family. Get checked. My job as an advocate is to make sure people feel safe doing that.”