Rescue workers and emergency medical services workers continue suffering diminishing lung capacity years after the World  Trade Center attacks on Sept 11, 2001, which killed 2,751 people including 343 fire department workers, Reuters reported citing a new study.

Dr. David Prezant of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and colleagues reported their study in the New England Journal of Medicine saying that breathing problems among New York Fire Department employees caused by dust, smoke and toxic substances became apparent a year after the attack.

The researchers reported that the lung conditions of these people continue to worsen. Specifically, firefighters who did not smoke lost about 25 milliliters of lung volume annually compared to 40 milliliters for emergency medial services personnel.

Before Sept 11, few firefighters had their lung capacity below normal.  But years later, 23 percent did.  Of emergency medical services workers, 11 percent had their lung capacity below normal before the collapse of the twin towers compared to 23 percent after the attack.

The Associated Press reported on March 27,2 2010 that as many as 10,000 workers claimed illnesses and their lawyers were trying to strike a deal with lawmakers working on a 9/11 health bill in Washington.

The news outlet said U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein granted $575 million to settle about 10,000 lawsuits over post-9/11 illnesses.

Cancer is another possible long term chronic disease resulting from the collapse of the Two Twin Towers complicating the compensation issues.

Jimmy Downs