Crossing Continents

9/11 - Toxic Ash


Listen Later

David Shukman reports on the thousands who have become ill from the toxic dust that blanketed Lower Manhattan after the Twin Towers collapsed on Sept 11th. The buildings released a cocktail of deadly carcinogens including, asbestos, lead, mercury and PCBs.

Frontline responders such as fire-fighters, police and emergency medical workers breathed in the contamination for several weeks as they toiled at Ground Zero. The fires burned for a hundred days and many of the emergency workers toiled without respirators or proper protection amid the dust and debris.

Now officials say more than 18,000 people have received medical treatment in the last 12 months for World Trade Center related conditions - many of them serious. The head of the federal programme overseeing victims compensation says he expects more people to die because of their exposure.

Nearly three thousand people perished on the day, but the suffering resulting from the attack is far from over.

Producer: Linda Sills.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Crossing ContinentsBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

75 ratings


More shows like Crossing Continents

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,718 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

378 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

891 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,066 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,474 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,809 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

969 Listeners

The History Hour by BBC World Service

The History Hour

591 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,785 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,043 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,119 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,078 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

477 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

107 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

46 Listeners

File on 4 Investigates by BBC Radio 4

File on 4 Investigates

41 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

406 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

736 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

233 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

161 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

74 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,225 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

737 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,042 Listeners