Bill Murawski for Public Advocate of New York City

The facts and the fiction . . . . . . .

After the Twin Towers crumbled before my eyes on "ASH Tuesday", I was in a state of shock and horror. My sense of mourning only intensified with the tragic loss of two residents who were on the flight that crashed into the fields of Pennsylvania and 15 local firefighters in my Clinton neighborhood. However, refuge is best taken in action and I immediately became concerned with the apparent absence of proper safety equipment in use around ground zero. Contacting the fire fighters and their union to disseminate information collected from friends who are knowledgeable in the devastating effects of chemical injury was my first course of action. In the days that followed, I began to speak with people who were at Ground Zero. This web page is prepared with concern for all still toiling there and with gratitude to a nation-wide network of people suffering from the toxic effects of chemical injuries, who have generously have contributed their research to the people of NY through this web site.

The FACTS! The towers collapsed in a huge cloud of smoke and flames that could be seen for miles. Our heroic uniformed officers of the police, fire and emergency medical departments converged upon a scene of complete devastation to save as many lives as possible. Many sacrificed their own. The tons of still smoldering rubble continue to pollute city streets and buildings with acrid odors and envelop all in a haze of abrasive dust, yet to be fully analyzed for toxic contents. Inadequately protected uniformed rescue workers were affected. The attack continues as bio-terrorism rears its ugly head in midtown and as lower Manhattan residents, workers and students begin to show adverse health effects from the added burden of pollutants still being emitted by the WTC site.

The FICTION - Our level of Preparedness: While the form of the attack could not have been imagined, it became clear that the city was unprepared for any serious terrorist attack in any skyscraper. People were instructed to stay put and a hugely expensive command center placed in an area that was previously bombed in 1993, swiftly disintegrated in this outrageous attack. New realities of bio-terrorism have emerged which again point to the lack of protocols for dealing with its emergence on our urban scene. Environmental testing protocols are slow and limited in scope considering the vast array of chemicals which comprised the WTC.

The QUESTIONS: Why were there not sufficient and appropriate supplies and equipment available for our emergency service response units? All of these people require such items in the course of their normal duties such as being called to the scenes of fires, bomb threats and bio-terrorism scares. Were they expected to await EPA test results before deciding upon the required safety equipment needs? Apart from issues of asbestos levels, much information about air quality are still not available by that overwhelmed agency as of this October 18 date.

Agencies, Articles & Elected Officials

Websites & Other Information

On September 19th and 20th I visited the FDNY union with information that informed them of the dangers lurking at Ground Zero. The information was provided by people who are disabled as a result of exposure to dangerous chemicals such as those used during the West Nile Virus mass-spraying in NYC to kill the mosquitoes carrying the "deadly" virus. I was informed they had their own independent testing and the firefighters have equipment to protect them and are not using it.

And now, after many weeks of telling the public that the air is safe, the "ugly truth" has finally surfaced in a front page story in the New York Daily News in a story by Juan Gonzalez. The fact that the City of New York did not prepare to protect it's heroes and residents is now exposed. Other than preparing a bunker to protect himself and a "chosen few" from a terrorist attack, it certainly appears that Mayor Giuliani did little if nothing to prepare the city's uniformed emergency services for the dangers resulting from a bio-terrorist attack. An article in New York Newsday on October 25th documents union concerns.

It was deplorable situation when I watched rescue workers work without proper protection and then finding an article that was published on the Toxicological Mechanisms of Fire Smoke in the Journal of Rescue and Disaster Medicine during 1998. It is unforgivable that when September 11th happened and calls went out for DONATIONS of protective gear of all types, whether suited to chemically laden fires or not.

It certainly appears that there was more than enough information available to have the city prepare for a terrorist attack especially since the first bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993! And even if they did not have "information", where was their logic and common sense?

And lets not forget that our "Democratic Royalty" made sure that they took care of themselves before their "servants" in the case of the postal workers. An October 23rd article in the NY Daily News documents the fears and anger of postal workers and is linked to related stories. And what are our elected officials doing to protect us? Read the October 25th article in the New York Daily News begins with stating that "The nation's new Office of Homeland Security, President Bush assured America yesterday, is working resolutely to "find those who would harm our citizens." It doesn't have to look far. It can start with some of our own government agencies" tells how out elected officials "protect" us."

It is obvious to me that our city, state and federal officials did not have a readiness plan prior to the September 11th attack to protect the public in the event of a bio-terrorist attack. Read the US Health and Human Services press release dated September 14, 2001, which is 3 days after the fact!. It certainly reminds me of the statement "Ready, fire, aim!"

Plans for the New Realities: Prior to the attack on the towers, never have there been such fears of biological and chemical warfare threats since the days of the Gulf War when sirens blared as Scud missiles were directed at the people of Israel. As the days progressed one by one, members of the emergency services and volunteers at the WTC site began their grisly tasks, STILL not wearing appropriate protective gear. Then came the anthrax attacks in the ensuing weeks and the stories about "garden varieties" and "weaponized" anthrax that came out from our elected officials. Read the Washington Post article regarding the anthrax story.

There are many activists involved with the issue of the aftermath left from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. A group of people affected from the long-term effects of chemical exposure developed an informational website that has recently been added to the Rutgers Environmental Health website. The group calls itself 911 ASH, which stands for

EMERGENCY! Air Safety Hazards

The site contains contains a wealth of information that can be accessed for health information regarding all types of environmental dangers lurking in the air that we breathe. Please take some time to read the press release announcing the group to the public, of which various members provided information to me for presentation to the FDNY union. Needless to say they were frustrated with the response I received from the union.

Another site of interest is by Nicholas Regush who is a medical investigative reporter who commented on the research of activist Jim West regarding his research on the West Nile Virus issue. Mr. Regush is publishing the Red Flag Daily site that "provides analysis of medical and scientific news, covering a wide range of topics." Read his commentary on the anthrax issue and vaccinations.

It was reported that Mayor Giuliani said "I looked up at the building again, and that seemed self-evident" in regards to a helicopter rescue on September 11th. The article goes on with "Although one NYPD pilot told the Journal he could have saved a "few dozen" people from a smoke- free corner .....Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen said stories like that one in the Journal are "hurtful." He said reporters should interview experts in the NYPD and FDNY, rather than a single police officer or firefighter." I was astounded after reading the article. If a football coach can trust a quarterback to call an audible play outside of the game plan, why can't the brass trust their "quarterbacks" when they see an opportunity to save lives? Isn't that what they are paid for? To save lives and take risks? Read the Daily News article for yourself.

It also stated in the article that the doors to the roof were locked and no one could get to the roof. I am concerned about this because I would have thought there was a fire evacuation plan in place whereby certain fire safety trained people on the upper floors would have a key to access the roof in time of an emergency - not that it would have made a difference in this case. When I worked at the New York City Housing Authority I began tracking high-rise fires when there was a scandal there on "fire retardant paint". Since then, a nephew of a friend of mine lost his life in a high-rise fire where if anything were to go wrong in a high-rise fire, it did. Perhaps the FDNY "experts" should review safety issues in all high-rise buildings and push for the city council and the new mayor to have sprinkler systems installed in ALL buildings.
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NOTE TO READERS: If you think that you have suffered injury as a result of being exposed to the aftermath of September 11, 2001, please visit a qualified medical professional who is licensed and registered with the appropriate government agencies. The information presented on this page is for informational purposes and is not intended to be medical information and/or advice for treatment. If there are any legal actions pursued as a result of chemical injuries sustained as a result of the aftermath, I will be more than happy to provide a supporting affidavit on anyone's behalf.


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