The 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack caused massive devastation - both immediate and long-term. Although many people are aware of the immediate devastation of the World Trade Center attack, many are unaware that hundreds - maybe thousands - of people who were at Ground Zero during and after the attack are still suffering.

What many people don't know, or haven't thought about, is that the massive cloud of dust that lingered in the air may have caused thousands of people to develop lung infections, or long-term or fatal lung diseases.

The dust particles at Ground Zero were small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and become lodged causing permanent damage to the lungs. What's worse is what was in the dust - hundreds of tons of asbestos, mercury from tens of thousands of fluorescent light bulbs, and lead from over 50,000 computers. All of these toxic materials were released into the air when the 9/11 attack occurred.

The thousands of bystanders and heroic rescuers breathed in this hazardous dust, many unaware of the long-term lung damage that would haunt them in the coming months and years after the 9/11 World Trade Center attack.

Tim Keller, a veteran NYC fire department medic, was one of the heroes. Not only was Keller one of the first rescuers on the scene, he also spent weeks at Ground Zero searching for 9/11 survivors. Keller was diagnosed with severe chronic asthmatic bronchitis about one year after the 9/11 World Trade Center attack.

When Keller became ill, he turned to the city for help - the city where he had dedicated his life to helping others and saving lives. He was denied both worker's compensation and any 9/11 benefits. The city did not believe there was a connection between his condition and the 9/11 attack.

Eventually, Keller received a partial benefit, however it was no where near enough to help him treat his lung disease. Keller soon became too sick to work, and too in debt to fill his much-needed prescriptions. Tim Keller died at the young age of 41.

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If you have been experiencing breathing difficulties or have a persistent cough, and believe your lungs may have been damaged or affected in some way due to dust exposure from 9/11, review the Signs and Symptoms of Lung Disease and see your doctor immediately.

Related Reading:

How Particles Get Into the Lungs and Airways
Asbestosis
Mesothelioma
Asthma
Occupational Asthma
Chronic Bronchitis

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