A man involved in the 9/11 cleanup as a first responder has passed away, and doctors believe his death is associated with his 9/11 related illness. Many different first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics have reported symptoms and side effects of 9/11 related cancer and other illnesses.

Unfortunately, those who responded to this tragedy quickly might have done so when it was the most dangerous time to breathe in the air. Some of them would not have been able to access masks to keep the most deadly toxins out of their system.

First Responders Have High Cancer Rates After Working in Ground Zero

Many of these heroes have reportedly lost their lives as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals present in the atmosphere during the cleanup. The death of Nick Ursta highlights an increasingly common form of cancer among 9/11 first responders, known as mesothelioma.

Nick and his wife were reportedly members of the Light Oak Rescue Team who headed to New York in a rescue truck, wheelchair van, and an ambulance in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. They stationed themselves in the main triage area in lower Manhattan within one block of ground zero. During the three days they spent there, that team helped to prevent theft and monitored the area.

However, the day after the crew arrived to help with the fallout, only a few face masks were available, according to reports, and Nick and his wife shared one over the following two days.

Nick passed away after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the lung lining that has most frequently been associated with exposure to asbestos. There are many different types of cancer that had been connected to first responders, but mesothelioma is a form that takes decades to develop and usually occurs in relation to asbestos exposure.

How Many Have Developed Cancer?

Out of the 76,000 first responders present in the area, 9,500 of them have already been diagnosed with types of cancer that can be caused by toxic exposures at ground zero. Mesothelioma and lung cancer are medical conditions that typically occur decades after being exposed to cancer-causing materials.

The Ground Zero exposure problem included organic debris at a rate of 100,000 tons, 130,000 gallons of transformer oil, 100,000 gallons of diesel and heating oils in buildings, and 24,000 gallons of jet fuel. This led to the fallout of toxic ingredients such as metals, acids, volatile organic compounds, dust, and soot, according to an investigation shared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since fires continued burning after the attacks happened, additional exposures to asbestos, cement dust, metals, particulates, glass fibers, and asbestos could have also occurred.

If you or someone you know has recently been diagnosed with a 9/11 related illness, a consultation with an attorney could help you to figure out your next steps.  There are funds to help those who have developed cancer and similar 9/11 illnesses and that money could be crucial for helping a loved one with a diagnosis.