Ground zero cancer refers to cancers associated with the material people were exposed to after the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Dust from Ground Zero contained high levels of carcinogens and dangerous material including cement dust, glass fibers, asbestos, lead,polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,polychlorinated biphenyls,organochlorinepesticides, andpolychlorinated furansand dioxins.
Thousands of first responders, recovery workers, residents, and employees who spent time in the area were exposed to this toxic dust, which may have increased their risk of certain types of cancer. Stress and challenges following the attack may also have had an impact on their health and rates of cancer.
Verywell / Mayya Agapova
9/11’s Continued Impact on Health
From September 2001 to May 2002, more than 91,000 first responders were exposed to harmful toxins that the World Trade Center (WTC) attack left behind.Those involved in the recovery efforts experienced both physical and mental health effects.
One study that looked at health effects on rescue and recovery workers and community members exposed at the WTC found that nearly half reported developing one or more health conditions after 9/11.
Ground Zero Cancer Rates
Researchers have found an increase in the risk of cancer for responders exposed to the mix of building dust, smoke, and jet fuel at Ground Zero.While most research has focused on the effects the toxic particles had on first responders, civilians who inhaled these particles are at risk as well.
The most prevalent types of 9/11-related cancer include:
Survival Rates for Ground Zero CancerAlthough the occurrence of cancer is higher in WTC-exposed responders, their risk of death from these cancers is lower than the general population. A study published in 2021 that evaluated individuals enrolled in the WTC Health Program suggests that ongoing screening, monitoring and no-cost treatment has had a significant impact on health outcomes for this population.
Survival Rates for Ground Zero Cancer
Although the occurrence of cancer is higher in WTC-exposed responders, their risk of death from these cancers is lower than the general population. A study published in 2021 that evaluated individuals enrolled in the WTC Health Program suggests that ongoing screening, monitoring and no-cost treatment has had a significant impact on health outcomes for this population.
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in a gland of the reproductive system in men.Compared to the general public, 9/11 first responders are 25% more likely to develop prostate cancer.
Researchers have found that prostate cancer is diagnosed late and is more aggressive in responders who had higher levels of exposure to WTC dust.This may be due to the fact that WTC dust affected the gene expression (instructions in your DNA to make certain cells and proteins) of people exposed.
Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer affects the thyroid, a gland responsible for hormone regulation.
The risk of developing thyroid cancer was found to be more than twice as high in 9/11 first responders than in the general population.
Underlying Factors for Thyroid CancerMany participants in the WTC Health Program were predisposed to thyroid cancer, given occupational exposures prior to 9/11, as well as family histories of thyroid cancer. Experts suggest that the rate of thyroid cancer in 9/11 first responders could be higher than expected because of these underlying factors.
Underlying Factors for Thyroid Cancer
Many participants in the WTC Health Program were predisposed to thyroid cancer, given occupational exposures prior to 9/11, as well as family histories of thyroid cancer. Experts suggest that the rate of thyroid cancer in 9/11 first responders could be higher than expected because of these underlying factors.
Melanoma
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer because it is the one most likely to spread or metastasize. Rates of melanoma are higher among 9/11 rescue workers and civilians exposed to Ground Zero dust compared to those who were not in the area.
Leukemia and Lymphoma
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood. Lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
The connection between the exposure to 9/11 material and these cancers is not well understood. Researchers continue to study and monitor people from the area to learn about the relationship.
Other Diseases and Disorders Related to 9/11
Working at Ground Zero, living in the area, or commuting near the World Trade Center impacted more than one’s risk for cancer. It created other health issues and impacted mental well-being and ways of life.
Smoking and Lung CancerBecausesmokingis a significant risk factor for lung cancer, a first responder’s risk for lung cancer is higher if they also smoke.
Smoking and Lung Cancer
Becausesmokingis a significant risk factor for lung cancer, a first responder’s risk for lung cancer is higher if they also smoke.
Summary
Decades after the 9/11 attacks, researchers continue to uncover health conditions associated with World Trade Center (WTC) recovery exposure. These conditions include prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, leukemia, and lung cancer.
It’s important to note that the latency period can be up to 40 years. This is significant for 9/11 first responders who may be at risk but have not identified any adverse health effects yet. In those cases, regular cancer screenings can save lives.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Antao VC, Pallos LL, Graham SL, et al.9/11 Residential Exposures: The Impact of World Trade Center Dust on Respiratory Outcomes of Lower Manhattan Residents.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(5):798. Published 2019 Mar 5. doi:10.3390/ijerph16050798Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Toxins and Health Impacts.Smith E, Holmes L, Larkin B.Health trends among 9/11 responders from 2011–2021: A review of world trade center health program statistics.Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 2021;36(5):621-626. doi:10.1017/S1049023X21000881Jordan, HT, Osahan, S, Li, J et al.Persistent mental and physical health impact of exposure to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks.Environ Health.2019;18(1):12. doi:10.1186/s12940-019-0449-7Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.World Trade Center health program: about the program.American Association for Cancer Research.The Toll of Heroism: Increased Cancer Incidence Among 9/11 Responders.Goldfarb, DG, Zeig-Owens, R, Kristjansson, D, et al.Cancer survival among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers: a collaborative cohort study.Am J Ind Med. 2021; 64: 815- 826. doi:10.1002/ajim.23278American Cancer Society.What is prostate cancer?Shapiro MZ, Wallenstein SR, Dasaro CR, et al.Cancer in general responders participating in World Trade Center health programs, 2003-2013.JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2019;4(1):pkz090. doi:10.1093/jncics/pkz090Yu H, Tuminello S, Alpert N, et al.Global DNA methylation of WTC prostate cancer tissues show signature differences compared to non-exposed cases.Carcinogenesis. 2022;43(6):528-537. doi:10.1093/carcin/bgac025Gong Y, Wang L, Yu H, et al.Prostate cancer in world trade center responders demonstrates evidence of an inflammatory cascade.Mol Cancer Res. 2019;17(8):1605-1612. doi:10.1158/1541-7786Tuminello S, van Gerwen MAG, Genden E, Crane M, Lieberman-Cribbin W, Taioli E.Increased incidence of thyroid cancer among World Trade Center first responders: A descriptive epidemiological assessment.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(7):1258. doi:10.3390/ijerph16071258Li J, Brackbill RM, Liao TS, et al.Ten-year cancer incidence in rescue/recovery workers and civilians exposed to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.Am J Ind Med. 2016;59(9):709-721. doi:10.1002/ajim.22638Vlahov D, et al.Increased use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana among Manhattan, New York, residents after the September 11th terrorist attacks.American Journal of Epidemiology.2002;155(11):988-996. doi:10.1093/aje/155.11.988Giesinger I, Li J, Takemoto E, Cone JE, Farfel MR, Brackbill RM.Association between posttraumatic stress disorder and mortality among responders and civilians following the September 11, 2001, disaster.JAMA Netw Open.2020;3(2):e1920476. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.20476
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Antao VC, Pallos LL, Graham SL, et al.9/11 Residential Exposures: The Impact of World Trade Center Dust on Respiratory Outcomes of Lower Manhattan Residents.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(5):798. Published 2019 Mar 5. doi:10.3390/ijerph16050798Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Toxins and Health Impacts.Smith E, Holmes L, Larkin B.Health trends among 9/11 responders from 2011–2021: A review of world trade center health program statistics.Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 2021;36(5):621-626. doi:10.1017/S1049023X21000881Jordan, HT, Osahan, S, Li, J et al.Persistent mental and physical health impact of exposure to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks.Environ Health.2019;18(1):12. doi:10.1186/s12940-019-0449-7Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.World Trade Center health program: about the program.American Association for Cancer Research.The Toll of Heroism: Increased Cancer Incidence Among 9/11 Responders.Goldfarb, DG, Zeig-Owens, R, Kristjansson, D, et al.Cancer survival among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers: a collaborative cohort study.Am J Ind Med. 2021; 64: 815- 826. doi:10.1002/ajim.23278American Cancer Society.What is prostate cancer?Shapiro MZ, Wallenstein SR, Dasaro CR, et al.Cancer in general responders participating in World Trade Center health programs, 2003-2013.JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2019;4(1):pkz090. doi:10.1093/jncics/pkz090Yu H, Tuminello S, Alpert N, et al.Global DNA methylation of WTC prostate cancer tissues show signature differences compared to non-exposed cases.Carcinogenesis. 2022;43(6):528-537. doi:10.1093/carcin/bgac025Gong Y, Wang L, Yu H, et al.Prostate cancer in world trade center responders demonstrates evidence of an inflammatory cascade.Mol Cancer Res. 2019;17(8):1605-1612. doi:10.1158/1541-7786Tuminello S, van Gerwen MAG, Genden E, Crane M, Lieberman-Cribbin W, Taioli E.Increased incidence of thyroid cancer among World Trade Center first responders: A descriptive epidemiological assessment.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(7):1258. doi:10.3390/ijerph16071258Li J, Brackbill RM, Liao TS, et al.Ten-year cancer incidence in rescue/recovery workers and civilians exposed to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.Am J Ind Med. 2016;59(9):709-721. doi:10.1002/ajim.22638Vlahov D, et al.Increased use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana among Manhattan, New York, residents after the September 11th terrorist attacks.American Journal of Epidemiology.2002;155(11):988-996. doi:10.1093/aje/155.11.988Giesinger I, Li J, Takemoto E, Cone JE, Farfel MR, Brackbill RM.Association between posttraumatic stress disorder and mortality among responders and civilians following the September 11, 2001, disaster.JAMA Netw Open.2020;3(2):e1920476. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.20476
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Antao VC, Pallos LL, Graham SL, et al.9/11 Residential Exposures: The Impact of World Trade Center Dust on Respiratory Outcomes of Lower Manhattan Residents.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(5):798. Published 2019 Mar 5. doi:10.3390/ijerph16050798Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Toxins and Health Impacts.Smith E, Holmes L, Larkin B.Health trends among 9/11 responders from 2011–2021: A review of world trade center health program statistics.Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 2021;36(5):621-626. doi:10.1017/S1049023X21000881Jordan, HT, Osahan, S, Li, J et al.Persistent mental and physical health impact of exposure to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks.Environ Health.2019;18(1):12. doi:10.1186/s12940-019-0449-7Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.World Trade Center health program: about the program.American Association for Cancer Research.The Toll of Heroism: Increased Cancer Incidence Among 9/11 Responders.Goldfarb, DG, Zeig-Owens, R, Kristjansson, D, et al.Cancer survival among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers: a collaborative cohort study.Am J Ind Med. 2021; 64: 815- 826. doi:10.1002/ajim.23278American Cancer Society.What is prostate cancer?Shapiro MZ, Wallenstein SR, Dasaro CR, et al.Cancer in general responders participating in World Trade Center health programs, 2003-2013.JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2019;4(1):pkz090. doi:10.1093/jncics/pkz090Yu H, Tuminello S, Alpert N, et al.Global DNA methylation of WTC prostate cancer tissues show signature differences compared to non-exposed cases.Carcinogenesis. 2022;43(6):528-537. doi:10.1093/carcin/bgac025Gong Y, Wang L, Yu H, et al.Prostate cancer in world trade center responders demonstrates evidence of an inflammatory cascade.Mol Cancer Res. 2019;17(8):1605-1612. doi:10.1158/1541-7786Tuminello S, van Gerwen MAG, Genden E, Crane M, Lieberman-Cribbin W, Taioli E.Increased incidence of thyroid cancer among World Trade Center first responders: A descriptive epidemiological assessment.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(7):1258. doi:10.3390/ijerph16071258Li J, Brackbill RM, Liao TS, et al.Ten-year cancer incidence in rescue/recovery workers and civilians exposed to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.Am J Ind Med. 2016;59(9):709-721. doi:10.1002/ajim.22638Vlahov D, et al.Increased use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana among Manhattan, New York, residents after the September 11th terrorist attacks.American Journal of Epidemiology.2002;155(11):988-996. doi:10.1093/aje/155.11.988Giesinger I, Li J, Takemoto E, Cone JE, Farfel MR, Brackbill RM.Association between posttraumatic stress disorder and mortality among responders and civilians following the September 11, 2001, disaster.JAMA Netw Open.2020;3(2):e1920476. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.20476
Antao VC, Pallos LL, Graham SL, et al.9/11 Residential Exposures: The Impact of World Trade Center Dust on Respiratory Outcomes of Lower Manhattan Residents.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(5):798. Published 2019 Mar 5. doi:10.3390/ijerph16050798
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.Toxins and Health Impacts.
Smith E, Holmes L, Larkin B.Health trends among 9/11 responders from 2011–2021: A review of world trade center health program statistics.Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. 2021;36(5):621-626. doi:10.1017/S1049023X21000881
Jordan, HT, Osahan, S, Li, J et al.Persistent mental and physical health impact of exposure to the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks.Environ Health.2019;18(1):12. doi:10.1186/s12940-019-0449-7
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.World Trade Center health program: about the program.
American Association for Cancer Research.The Toll of Heroism: Increased Cancer Incidence Among 9/11 Responders.
Goldfarb, DG, Zeig-Owens, R, Kristjansson, D, et al.Cancer survival among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers: a collaborative cohort study.Am J Ind Med. 2021; 64: 815- 826. doi:10.1002/ajim.23278
American Cancer Society.What is prostate cancer?
Shapiro MZ, Wallenstein SR, Dasaro CR, et al.Cancer in general responders participating in World Trade Center health programs, 2003-2013.JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2019;4(1):pkz090. doi:10.1093/jncics/pkz090
Yu H, Tuminello S, Alpert N, et al.Global DNA methylation of WTC prostate cancer tissues show signature differences compared to non-exposed cases.Carcinogenesis. 2022;43(6):528-537. doi:10.1093/carcin/bgac025
Gong Y, Wang L, Yu H, et al.Prostate cancer in world trade center responders demonstrates evidence of an inflammatory cascade.Mol Cancer Res. 2019;17(8):1605-1612. doi:10.1158/1541-7786
Tuminello S, van Gerwen MAG, Genden E, Crane M, Lieberman-Cribbin W, Taioli E.Increased incidence of thyroid cancer among World Trade Center first responders: A descriptive epidemiological assessment.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(7):1258. doi:10.3390/ijerph16071258
Li J, Brackbill RM, Liao TS, et al.Ten-year cancer incidence in rescue/recovery workers and civilians exposed to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.Am J Ind Med. 2016;59(9):709-721. doi:10.1002/ajim.22638
Vlahov D, et al.Increased use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana among Manhattan, New York, residents after the September 11th terrorist attacks.American Journal of Epidemiology.2002;155(11):988-996. doi:10.1093/aje/155.11.988
Giesinger I, Li J, Takemoto E, Cone JE, Farfel MR, Brackbill RM.Association between posttraumatic stress disorder and mortality among responders and civilians following the September 11, 2001, disaster.JAMA Netw Open.2020;3(2):e1920476. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.20476
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
