The Lasting Effects of Asbestos Dust in the Atmosphere is Highlighted by the 9/11 Disaster

It’s now 15 years since 9/11, and yet it seems the legacy of the destruction of the World Trade Centre collapse will continue for years to come.

As the world prepares to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) says the horrors of that day are not completely over. The estimated 1,000 tons of asbestos rich dust released following the collapse of the World Trade Centre has the potential to claim more lives than the original 2,753 people murdered on that shocking day in 2001. 

via Fifteen years on from 9/11, the fallout from the asbestos dust has yet to settle

Thousands died when the towers collapsed, but the lasting effects of asbestos dust cloud released in the devastation could be affecting many more people. According to UKATA:

“Estimates suggest 410,000 people could have been exposed when the towers collapsed, and as asbestos diseases like mesothelioma take between 15 and 60 years to develop, the true cost in lives post  9/11 may not be fully appreciated for decades.” 

Asbestos dust is extremely dangerous and the above reports highlight the issues that could occur when it’s released. Obviously, 9/11 was an extreme example, but whenever a building is being worked on, demolished or extended, the potential for asbestos dust is apparent.

A clear asbestos removal plan is essential, then, to ensure everybody’s safety.