DR MARC SIEGEL: Twenty-five years after 9/11, the deadly health crisis is still claiming lives
New York Health Officials Say 9/11’s Long‑Term Medical Fallout Continues to Grow
By Maine News Now
A physician who worked on the emergency front lines of the September 11, 2001 attacks has warned that the health toll for first responders and residents near Ground Zero is still rising. Dr. Marc Siegel, who was stationed at Bellevue Hospital during the attacks and later visited the disaster site, told reporters that the risks from toxic debris were known at the time and that the consequences will persist for generations.
At the time of the attacks, Dr. Siegel was on duty at Bellevue Hospital, helping to empty the facility and triage patients for transfer to other hospitals as New York City prepared to receive World Trade Center survivors. He recalls checking on his children’s safety before heading back to the hospital, a “concrete lifesaver” he says.
A few days later, when he entered the WTC rubble, he was given an N95 mask and noted a thin film of toxic particles in the air, even though the day was sunny. “We knew the molten debris and toxins were a problem,” he said.
Since then, Dr. Siegel has treated patients who attribute a range of conditions—gastro‑oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and various cancers—to 9/11 exposure. “We knew there were potentially serious health risks,” he said, emphasizing that the medical community has long monitored these patients through the World Trade Center Health Program.
The program, a partnership between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the City of New York, offers medical screening, including chest CT scans, for those who were exposed. According to program data, 57,000 cancer cases have been linked to toxic debris released on 9/11. Between 2023 and 2025 alone, the number of cases rose 75 percent, and lung cancer rates have doubled in five years. Skin, prostate, breast and thyroid cancers, along with lymphomas, are the most frequently reported.
In addition to new diagnoses, the program estimates that over 9,000 people have died from health effects related to the attacks—fewer than the 2,977 people who died in the attacks themselves but still a far higher figure than the death toll from the initial events.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has recently released 170,000 documents about the 9/11 attacks, claiming that the public had been misled. Dr. Siegel responded that the medical community had been aware of the health hazards from the start. “We knew about these risks,” he said. “Whether patient, doctor or public health official, we could only predict, screen and treat.”
The mayor’s documents include internal communications about the city’s emergency response and the early days of the WTC Health Program. Critics say they confirm that the city had foreknowledge of potential long‑term health impacts, while supporters argue the releases demonstrate transparency.
Dr. Siegel stresses that the health consequences of 9/11 are “not just a history chapter” for the next generation of Americans. “The physical and emotional impact of that day lingers today,” he said. “We must continue to monitor and treat those affected.”
As the city prepares for the 25th anniversary of the attacks, the data underscore the need for ongoing surveillance and support for those whose health has been compromised by the day’s environmental hazards. The World Trade Center Health Program remains a critical resource for individuals still battling the lingering effects of the disaster.
