Emma-Lung+Article

The toxins released from the dust on 9/11 have a direct link with an astonishing increase of asthma in 9/11 workers. It has been recorded that from 26,00 workers surveyed 926 got asthma after being at ground zero for a period of time. Normally out of 26,000 people on 76 people would be expected to get asthma. The suspected increase for this asthma is the lack/ineffectiveness of respirator masks on and after 9/11. Many off the masks that were supplied only had 30 minutes of oxygen and then were useless. This led firefighters to pick up simple surgical and utility masks which helped but did not stop the dust and smoke from entering their lungs. Although after 9/11 respiratory protection was more available to workers many people did not use them properly. This study is evidence that more protective respiratory equipment needs to be available during a crisis.