Title: Young 9/11 Survivors Call for More Research as Health Concerns Mount
Date: September 5, 2023
Author: Jessica Petrow-Cohen
Growing up near Ground Zero has left Jessica Petrow-Cohen with a deep concern for her health. As a survivor of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, she witnessed the collapse of the World Trade Center towers from her classroom window at just five years old. Now, as she grapples with the loss of her mother, who succumbed to cancer related to the environmental toxins released during and after the attacks, Jessica worries about her own health and the health of other young survivors.
The World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program, designed to monitor and treat certified WTC-related health conditions, reports that over 71,000 individuals have been diagnosed with physical and mental health issues resulting from exposure to the dust, smoke, debris, and trauma of 9/11. Shockingly, two of these individuals are Jessica’s mothers.
Living in downtown Manhattan, close to Ground Zero, made Jessica’s family susceptible to the dangerous environmental toxins. Her mother, Julie, was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2019, while Maddy, Jessica’s other mother, battled head and neck cancer. Despite Maddy’s remission, Julie’s tragic death this summer has sent Jessica spiraling into a state of grief and an awareness of the shared risk of diseases faced by young survivors like herself.
However, there is a lack of adequate research and data on the health risks faced by young 9/11 survivors. The list of certified WTC-related conditions eligible for coverage by the WTC Health Program has predominantly relied on studies involving adult 9/11 responder cohorts, neglecting to include women and children who may be more vulnerable to environmental toxins. This exclusion means that conditions more likely to affect these groups, such as reproductive health issues and autoimmune diseases, are being denied coverage due to a lack of comprehensive data.
Jessica is one of an estimated 35,000 children exposed to environmental toxins during and after 9/11. Lila Nordstrom, founder of StuyHealth, a nonprofit advocacy group for students in Lower Manhattan during 9/11, emphasizes that the lack of focus on this large youth cohort has resulted in their health needs being frequently overlooked or deprioritized.
Furthermore, the long-term mental health effects on young survivors have not been properly examined. Trauma from the attacks and the subsequent illnesses suffered by loved ones have taken a toll on individuals like Jessica. A study revealed that one year after 9/11, individuals who experienced loss during the attacks were over twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. But what about those suffering from related losses over 20 years later?
In December 2022, a new WTC Health Program youth research cohort was established to study the health effects on individuals who were 21 or younger at the time of the attack. The aim of this research cohort is to close the gender and age gaps in existing research and understand the long-term impact of 9/11-related toxins and traumas on the childhood survivors.
This initiative is crucial to ensure equitable and fair treatment for youth survivors. It will provide the necessary data to support consistent coverage under the WTC Health Program. Nordstrom emphasizes the importance of gathering representative longitudinal data to ensure that youth survivors are not treated as less deserving victims of 9/11.
Although Jessica’s 9/11 story has been with her throughout her lifetime, it is far from over. Alongside tens of thousands of others who shared a similar experience on the third day of school, Jessica faces both known and unknown health risks. The urgency to gather pertinent data and conduct further research is vital to address the growing concerns of this overlooked population of survivors.
As the future unfolds, the hope is that the lessons learned from Jessica’s journey will lead to better support and understanding for all those affected by the tragic events of 9/11.