Growing Health Concerns and Activism
In 2010, the nearly decade-long efforts came to fruition when Congress passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010.
In the days, weeks, and months after the attacks, as safety assurances from official sources continued, thousands faced a growing health crisis. Responders, survivors, and their allies redoubled their efforts to press for a coordinated federal response to address both the health and financial impacts of the disaster. Concerns over the continued exposure for those residing in, working in, and/or returning to the area during the clean-up period prompted groups to hold rallies, protests, marches, panels, town halls, and push for Congressional hearings, in New York City (NYC) and Washington, D.C. Activists included labor unions and labor organizations representing uniformed and civilian responders and area workers; community groups, such as Beyond Ground Zero Network, 9/11 Environmental Action, Manhattan Community Board 1, the WTC Emergency Environment Committee, Rebuild with a Spotlight on the Poor, the Stuyvesant High School Parents Association, StuyHealth, and the WTC Community-Labor Coalition; responder advocacy organizations such as the Fealgood Foundation, Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes, 9/11 Health Watch; the occupational health community; elected representatives; residents and area workers from diverse communities; and more. These survivors, responders, and activists called for the assessment and proper cleanup of 9/11 contaminants to prevent further exposures, 9/11-related responder and survivor healthcare, financial compensation for victims and their families, memorializing the lives lost, and the safe demolition of buildings contaminated on 9/11.
In response to concerns raised by 9/11 health advocates, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the WTC Expert Technical Review Panel in 2004. The Panel was tasked with exploring unmet public health needs and developing recommendations for an appropriate assessment and cleanup of contaminants in homes, schools, and offices in Lower Manhattan. Although the Panel and its public process concluded without delivering an accepted plan to address contamination and clean-up, the participation and testimony from members of affected communities was key to establishing that residents, workers, and students had long-term exposures to indoor 9/11 contamination at levels with the potential to harm their health.
Activists and advocates called on the federal government to establish a health program for responders and survivors and to fund ongoing research on the emerging health impacts from exposures. On September 7, 2006, for the fifth anniversary of 9/11, many of these community and labor groups invited newly named U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) WTC Programs Coordinator Dr. John Howard (Director of NIOSH) to a Town Hall organized by 9/11 Environmental Action. There, he addressed hundreds of survivors whose health was “affected but neglected” in the aftermath of the attacks.
In 2010, the nearly decade-long efforts of responders, survivors, clinicians, researchers, and federal, state, and local government came to fruition when Congress passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (Zadroga Act). The Zadroga Act established the WTC Health Program, administered by HHS, which conducts research and provides medical monitoring and treatment to eligible survivors and responders. In addition, the Zadroga Act reopened the previously established September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, which provides financial compensation to eligible claimants. In 2015, following another round of advocacy by responders, survivors, and their allies, the WTC Health Program was extended through 2090.
Photograph taken by Allan Tannenbaum on June 13, 2006 of 9/11 health activist Mariama James (center) with her father Norman Thomas (left), and her children. They are in their Southbridge Towers apartment, a short distance from Ground Zero, holding the medicines they must take for their 9/11-related illnesses. Norman Thomas passed away on May 17, 2021, due to a 9/11-related disease.
Photograph on loan from The National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Photograph taken by Allan Tannenbaum on June 17, 2006 depicting Joseph Zadroga, father of deceased NYPD detective James Zadroga. The family is at a rally organized by Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes at Ground Zero to demand a solid commitment to fund long-term health monitoring and treatment and to address the many health-related needs linked to Ground Zero pollution. It was sponsored by New York labor unions and local environmental groups.
Photograph on loan from The National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Activists, including those from the Beyond Ground Zero Network, demonstrate in front of the Rayburn House Office Building on June 25, 2007 in Washington, DC. 9/11 clean-up workers, Lower East Side residents, and other Lower Manhattan workers comprised the crowd, protesting Former Environmental Protection Agency chief Christine Todd Whitman’s testimony before Congress.
Photograph courtesy of Mark Wilson/Getty Images.
At a March 21, 2007, hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Dr. Jim Melius (center) testifies about the long-term health care effects of 9/11. Also pictured: Dr. Robin Herbert (L) , Dr. Kerry Kelly (2nd L), Dr. Joan Reibman (3rd L), Dr. Jeanne Meager Stellman (2nd R) and Ground Zero volunteer Jeff Endean.
Photograph courtesy of Jamie Rose/Getty Images.
Tens of thousands of children and adolescents lived or attended school in the New York City Disaster Area on and after September 11, 2001. On that day, 4-year-old Kate Woolverton lived a couple blocks away from the World Trade Center. She was exposed to hazardous toxins and the traumatizing events of the day and during the months that followed. Her parents took her to the WTC Environmental Health Center (part of NYC Health + Hospitals [H+H]) where she received specialized therapies for her WTC-related physical and mental health conditions. Kate drew this self-portrait titled A Light in the Storm, which depicts her receiving treatment. She stated, “There is sun behind the cloud while I am having my breathing test.” Twenty years later, Kate is still healing from her WTC-related health conditions. She hopes others affected by 9/11 as children are also getting the help they need.
Created by Kate Woolverton.
Many advocates traveled to Washington, DC to urge the federal government to address critical health and safety issues following 9/11. At the podium, Lower Manhattan resident and Manhattan Community Board 1 World Trade Center Redevelopment Committee Chair Catherine McVay Hughes shares her personal experiences and calls for action in front of the Capitol Building.
Photograph taken by Mary Perillo. Courtesy of Catherine Hughes.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio hosts a celebration in January 2016 honoring the efforts of first responders, survivors, advocates, and lawmakers to reauthorize the Zadroga Act. The Mayor awarded the Key to the City to former firefighter and long-time Zadroga Act advocate Ray Pfeifer.
Photograph courtesy of Louise Wateridge/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images.
Actor/comedian Jon Stewart (right) greets John Feal (left), the founder of the FealGood Foundation, during the design unveiling of a memorial to honor 9/11 rescue workers on May 30, 2018, in New York City.
Photograph courtesy of Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images.
Page Last Reviewed: October 23, 2023 | Page Last Updated: September 1, 2022