Immigrant Workers Rally Over Health Concerns At WTC Site
September 06, 2006
Armed with signs and medical proof, some illegal immigrant workers who spent days at the world trade center rallied Downtown this afternoon, saying they need help with the health problems they've developed since the attacks.
Their protest comes one day after the largest study on the health impact of dust at the World Trade site was released with staggering results.
According to the report released Tuesday by Mount Sinai Hospital, nearly 70 percent of first responders developed new or worsened respiratory symptoms after the attacks. Among those who had no health problems before September 11th, 61 percent developed symptoms after exposure.
Mount Sinai's five-year-long study is based on findings from medical exams conducted between July of 2002 and April of 2004; 9,500 workers were tested.
Many of the immigrant workers say that they are also suffering from respiratory problems from working at the site. The report suggests people who responded right after the attacks experience the worst health effects.
Despite the medical nature of the study, Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressed skepticism at the results. "I haven't seen the Mount Sinai study, but I don't believe that you can say specifically a particular problem came from this particular effect," said Bloomberg. His stance is putting him at odds with health care professionals.
"There should no longer be any doubt about the health effects of the World Trade Center," said Dr. Robin Herbert of Mt. Sinai. "Our patients are sick and will need ongoing health monitoring and treatment for the rest of their lives."
Regardless, the mayor announced a series of initiatives to help those who responded to the Trade Center disaster in the days after 9/11. On Tuesday, he announced that the city is creating a five-year, $16-million environmental health center at Bellevue Hospital to treat those first responders and anyone who feels they are suffering from the effects of the dust they inhaled after the attacks. The new health center is set to open in January.
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=62352
Armed with signs and medical proof, some illegal immigrant workers who spent days at the world trade center rallied Downtown this afternoon, saying they need help with the health problems they've developed since the attacks.
Their protest comes one day after the largest study on the health impact of dust at the World Trade site was released with staggering results.
According to the report released Tuesday by Mount Sinai Hospital, nearly 70 percent of first responders developed new or worsened respiratory symptoms after the attacks. Among those who had no health problems before September 11th, 61 percent developed symptoms after exposure.
Mount Sinai's five-year-long study is based on findings from medical exams conducted between July of 2002 and April of 2004; 9,500 workers were tested.
Many of the immigrant workers say that they are also suffering from respiratory problems from working at the site. The report suggests people who responded right after the attacks experience the worst health effects.
Despite the medical nature of the study, Mayor Michael Bloomberg expressed skepticism at the results. "I haven't seen the Mount Sinai study, but I don't believe that you can say specifically a particular problem came from this particular effect," said Bloomberg. His stance is putting him at odds with health care professionals.
"There should no longer be any doubt about the health effects of the World Trade Center," said Dr. Robin Herbert of Mt. Sinai. "Our patients are sick and will need ongoing health monitoring and treatment for the rest of their lives."
Regardless, the mayor announced a series of initiatives to help those who responded to the Trade Center disaster in the days after 9/11. On Tuesday, he announced that the city is creating a five-year, $16-million environmental health center at Bellevue Hospital to treat those first responders and anyone who feels they are suffering from the effects of the dust they inhaled after the attacks. The new health center is set to open in January.
http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=62352
posted by Iloveny_marf at 7:03 PM
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