Health problems of first responders emerges as an issue

Twenty-three former Ground Zero responders have died from diseases related to their exposure to toxic chemicals there, and thousands more are sick and suffering. Some responders are suing the government. Mount Sinai Medical Center has done medical screenings for more than 15,000 World Trade Center responders under a federally funded program that will last until 2009. The medical center has also treated 1,600 responders through a program primarily paid for by the Red Cross. There is a three-month waiting list, however, and it is funded only for another year and a half. Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan) is outraged that to date, “not one dime of federal money” has gone for the treatment of sick and injured responders. She and other members of New York’s congressional delegation are pushing Congress to restore $125 million that was cut from the federal budget to help states pay workers’ compensation claims related to 9/11 and to pay for treatment programs like Mount Sinai’s. The measure passed the House and Senate and was signed into law in December. Security experts argue that more should be done to train first responders with regard to toxic materials found in disaster scenes, and that the government should set aside more funds for quick treatment of disaster victims and emergency personnel exposed to toxic materials.

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