New York city may have began recovering from the terrible 9/11 terrorist attacks nine years ago but now there is another tragedy in New York
. The rescue teams who worked at the scene are noe suffering from fatal illness as a result of inhaling toxic chemicals released in the dust from the tumbling twin tower buildings,
Former New York police officer Glen Klein has had to retire from his role nine years on from the attacks due to suffering from a string of serious health conditions brought on due to the inhalation of toxic fumes at ground zero. Glen is amongst 10,000 other rescue workers who have become ill due to the work they carried out. He is said to have spent 800 hours helping at the scene, and spent six months at ground zero after the attacks. His gastrointestinal and respiratory complaints are said to be directly related to the inhalation of toxins at the scene.
The rescue workers were only supplied with paper masks and did not have the correct respiratory cartridges it is now known. They were also told that the air around them was safe.
Glen Klein is a volunteer for 'Feelgood Foundation' a group set up with the aim in educating people about the plight of the rescue workers battle since 9/11
It is now known that more than 1000 fire-fighters who worked at the scene have had to retire due to medical reasons.
Ken Specht is a prime example of somebody who has suffered due to the exposure. The 41 year old lieutenant began getting ill i 2005 and at first suffered from a range of gastrointestinal complaints before needing an emergency operation to remove a rotten gall bladder and being treated for thyroid cancer.
Mr Specht has since said, The regular people in America support us - they understand what we did - but the federal government has sorely lacked in providing medical assistance and compensation. We are dying."
Those who worked at the scene are now being offered a share of a $71 million compensation fund. People who can prove they have illnesses as a direct result of the 9/11 situation will receive more money than those who fear in future years the health implications they have suffered will become apparent.
The collapse of the two towers released high levels of chemicals into the air, including asbestos, lead and mercury, as well as burning jet fuel and oil.