Nadler: Coroner’s Report Confirms 9/11 Health Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A New Jersey coroner’s report this week confirmed that the death of NYPD officer James Zadroga was “directly related” to his exposure to toxins while working at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.  The report is the latest piece of evidence to show that exposure to World Trade Center dust is a serious and ongoing crisis – and that substantive expansions of treatment and compensation programs are sorely needed.

Congressman Nadler released the following statement:

“The coroner’s finding, like the CDC report that preceded it last week, confirms that exposure to World Trade Center dust is a serious, serious health issue.  Given that thousands of people were exposed to the cloud that day – and that thousands more continue to be exposed daily to the dust that remains – it’s high time that the our city, state, and federal governments took real action to address this crisis.

“We need a serious, comprehensive testing and cleanup plan to get rid of the WTC dust that still lurks in homes and workplaces.  The Environmental Protection Agency, mandated by law to take the lead in that effort, has defaulted on its duties since day one.  Exposure to toxic dust poses a cumulative threat; every day that New Yorkers live and work in contaminated spaces, they are more likely to develop acute or life-threatening illness.

“It’s also clear that we need to do more for those who are already sick, and for the families of those who have passed away.  First responders and cleanup workers who risked their lives in 2001, and who are now sick, are seeing their workers’ compensation claims controverted at rate much higher than what other workers face.  It is not the state’s right to renege on care for its injured workers.  Detective Zadroga’s death, among others, should illustrate beyond doubt that Ground Zero workers are absolutely entitled to compensation.

“We need to adequately fund a medical treatment program to care for survivors with physical and psychological symptoms.  And in the cases of the first responders whom we failed to save, we should see to it that their families receive their full disability pension.  It’s the least we can do to rectify a grievous wrong.”