Years after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers, researchers are still trying to determine if there is an increased rate of myeloma in 9/11 responders.
After planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001, and the subsequent collapse of these towers, a huge cloud of dust and debris was released into the environment. The exact mixture of toxins released into the air is unknown, as samples were not taken in the immediate aftermath. However, numerous dust samples were taken from around Manhattan in the days following the tragedy, including the “Ground Zero” site (the site where the two collapsed towers once stood, which became a huge mountain of ash and debris).
These samples showed the presence of an extraordinary mixture of carcinogens, including asbestos, microscopic shards of glass, and benzene, which has been linked to the development of leukemia and myeloma in a number of studies. It is estimated that approximately 91,000 liters of jet fuel were released from the two airplanes that crashed into the towers, and this is the main source of benzene.
Early responders to the site, including emergency, reconstruction, and rescue workers and volunteers, would have had the highest levels of exposure to the toxic dust cloud. Within weeks of the tragedy, medical screening of 9/11 responders began. Many were noted to have health issues, breathing problems and coughs, as well as psychological trauma. These have become widely acknowledged side effects from exposure at the Ground Zero site.
Through the medical screening programs, a number of 9/11 responders have been diagnosed with myeloma. While the rates of myeloma in 9/11 responders is slightly higher than the regular population, the most striking observation is the number of cases diagnosed in people under the age of 45. The rate of myeloma is 4 times higher than doctors would expect in this young age group. Myeloma is typically a disease of older persons, occurring at the average age of 71.
In spite of these findings, overall there has not been an increase in cancers among the Ground Zero workers. Does this mean that the myeloma cases are just a terrible coincidence? Possibly. However, it is well-known that there was a significant amount of benzene at the site following the September 11 attacks. So why haven’t more people been diagnosed?
The answer lies in our knowledge of how cancer develops. Following exposure to a carcinogen, cells become damaged and go through a number of DNA changes, or mutations, before they turn into a cancer. This process can take many years in some cases. In fact, scientists estimate that it may take between 10-20 years to develop myeloma following exposure to benzene.
So it may be several years before we know the full health impact that the events of 9/11 have had on responders, rescue workers, and residents of Lower Manhattan. Until then, people who lived and worked in the Ground Zero area should continue to take advantage of the health monitoring that is available.
Sources:
Costantini, A., Benvenuti, A., Vineis, P. et al “Risk of Leukemia and Multiple Myeloma Associated with Exposure to Benzene and Other Organic Solvents: Evidence From the Italian Multicenter Case-Control Study” American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2008. 51: 803- 811.
Moline, J., Herbert, R., Crowley, L. et al “Multiple Myeloma in World Trade Center Responders: A Case Series” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine . August 2009 51: 896- 902.
Samet, J., Geyh, A., and Utell, M. “The Legacy of World Trade Center Dust” The New England Journal of Medicine May 31, 2007 22:2233- 2236.
