Toxic Air and Cancer Risks
- “Fox News” anchor Eric Shawn, 68, publicly revealed his cancer diagnosis, and he believes it’s linked to toxic dust exposure while reporting from Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks. “Well, here it is, 24 years,” Shawn said, reflecting on a long-held fear that the aftermath of 9/11 might one day affect his health.
- A recent report released by the World Trade Center Health Program says 50% of people enrolled in its program, which supports people directly affected by the September 11th attacks, have been diagnosed with cancer.
The Sept. 11 attacks exposed an estimated 490,000 people to a load of cancer-causing toxins. Many survivors and first responders have suffered illnesses due to exposure to the air in and around Ground Zero. - Dr. Michael Crane, the Medical Director of the World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital, says, “There was the explosion, the collapse, and the enormous release of material,” says Crane. “Plus, you had ongoing fires for months. The dust cloud passed, but the air stayed dusty for days. No one will ever know what we inhaled.”
- Cancer is the fifth most common 9/11-related health condition among responders and the fourth among survivors. The most common cancers in these groups are of the skin (non-melanoma), prostate, and breast (in females), melanoma, and lymphoma.
“Back then, I remember thinking, maybe in 20, 30 years later, I’ll get something. Well, here it is, 24 years,” Shawn said during a segment on Fox News.
“I mean, I’m very, very lucky. I think of all those who are suffering much greater … I’ve lost a few friends from this.” Earlier this year, Shawn was diagnosed with a bronchitis-related respiratory issue, followed by a cancer diagnosis. While the specific type of cancer hasn’t been disclosed, he confirmed that both conditions are recognized under the World Trade Center Health Program—a federal initiative offering medical support to survivors and first responders.
The program’s reach is vast, but the numbers are sobering. A recent report released by the World Trade Center Health Program says 50% of people enrolled in the program, designed to offer “high-quality, compassionate medical monitoring and treatment for World Trade Center-related conditions to people directly affected by the September 11th attacks have been diagnosed with cancer, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) says.
WATCH: How One September 11 Survivor Eventually Developed Lymphoma Years Later.
“I have two diagnoses under the World Trade Center Program,” Shawn noted.
His announcement adds to the growing chorus of voices calling for continued awareness and support for those affected by 9/11-related illnesses.
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Environment's Influence on Cancer Risk
What Was In the Air?
“While 2,977 people were murdered here that day, the number who have died from 9/11-related illnesses has increased from the toxic dust that was released,” Shawn said.
More than 71,000 people are enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry. This registry tracks the long-term physical and mental health effects of the September 11 attacks.
The World Trade Center Health Program has tracked the health of and provided medical care to more than 105,000 survivors and responders. They include responders and survivors of the World Trade Center attack, responders to the Pentagon attack, and the Pennsylvania plane crash. Among them, 19,150, that’s nearly 1 in 5, have had a 9/11-related cancer.
The immense debris rushing into the air during the terror attacks comprised explosive material from the airplane’s impact itself, including the building material of the World Trade Center.
The National Cancer Institute has identified several chemical substances known to be carcinogenic to humans. Some examples of carcinogenic chemicals include:
- Arsenic
- Asbestos
- Indoor emissions from household compounds
- Soot
- Secondhand tobacco smoke
- Wood dust
WATCH: Are toxins in the air making us sick?
“There has been no other disaster quite like this,” Dr. Michael Crane tells SurvivorNet.
Dr. Crane is the Medical Director of the World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and an expert in the health consequences of large-scale disasters.
“We are looking at an exposure that was really frightening and whose total extent is unknown.”
“There was the explosion, the collapse, and the enormous release of material,” says Crane. “Plus, you had ongoing fires for months. The dust cloud passed, but the air stayed dusty for days. No one will ever know what we inhaled.”
Asbestos and Its Impact On Our Environment
Asbestos is the name given to six naturally occurring minerals known for their resistance to heat, fire, and chemicals—and for their ability to insulate without conducting electricity. But despite these industrial advantages, asbestos carries a deadly legacy. According to the National Cancer Institute, it is a known carcinogen, meaning it causes cancer.
Three major health authorities have classified asbestos as a cancer-causing substance:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- International Agency for Research on Cancer
For decades, asbestos was widely used across the United States in commercial and industrial products. Its applications ranged from pipe insulation and floor tiles to building materials and vehicle brakes and clutches, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It wasn’t until the 1970s—after mounting evidence linked asbestos exposure to cancer—that its use began to decline.
The danger lies in the microscopic fibers released when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed. These fibers can be inhaled or swallowed, embedding themselves in the lungs or digestive tract, where they may cause inflammation and, over time, lead to serious diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
While low levels of asbestos are present in the air, water, and soil, the National Cancer Institute notes that “most people do not become sick from their exposure” at these levels. However, the risk escalates dramatically for individuals with prolonged or repeated exposure—especially those working directly with asbestos or living near contaminated sites.
The EPA urges caution in areas where asbestos may be released, such as during plant fires or industrial accidents. “Avoid touching any debris from accidents like this,” the agency warns.
Ultimately, the threat of asbestos is not just historical—it’s ongoing. And for those exposed regularly or occupationally, the consequences can be life-altering.
Monitoring Air Quality to Reduce Your Risk
Colorectal oncologist and SurvivorNet Medical Advisor Dr. Heather Yeo says, “It’s often difficult to study environmental causes of cancer,” but adds that it usually takes enormous amounts of exposure for the risk to turn severe.
WATCH: SurvivorNetTV Presents ‘How Not to Get Cancer: Environment’
The Air Quality Index tracks this pollution and the associated health concerns.
If you live where wildfires are a natural concern, monitoring the air quality can help mitigate your risk. Wildfire smoke could be made up of “gases and fine particles from burning vegetation, building materials, and other materials,” according to the CDC.
Breathing in wildfire smoke for extended periods may have a link to cancer, but this is difficult to study, and more data is needed. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2017 found that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter was associated with an increased risk of death from lung cancer.
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