"Persistent 9/11 Illnesses Continue to Claim Lives 22 Years Later"

The number of first responders who have died from 9/11-related illnesses now nearly equals the number of firefighters who died during the terror attacks themselves. A total of 341 New York City Fire Department firefighters, paramedics, and civilian support staff who died from post-9/11 illnesses are now memorialized at the FDNY World Trade Center Memorial Wall, almost equaling the 343 firefighters who died during the attacks. Exposure to the dust at the World Trade Center has been linked to heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and cancer diagnoses. The impacts of the attacks continue to grow, with concerns about the long-term health effects on first responders and others affected.