The Dust of Ground Zero

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani claimed, "I was at ground zero as often, if not more, than most of the workers. I was there working with them. I was there guiding things. I was there bringing people there. But I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I'm one of them." According to the New York Times, Giuliani spent only 29 total hours at Ground Zero. Records of the first six day from September 11th to 16th are not available.



What is most disturbing about Giuliani's statement is how condescending it is to workers whom were on site every day. Former pollice officer Richard Volpe is suffering from kidney failure. His partner John Walcott has been diagnosed with leukemia. His doctors believe it is related to exposure from dust. Over 600 firefighters have taken early retirement because of respiratory-related illnesses. 10,000 New Yorkers are part of a class action suit against the city.



Dust from the World Trade Center covered Manhattan for miles. Giuliani tooked celebrities, such as Oprah Winfrey, to tour Ground Zero. He could see that the workers were not wearing the proper safety gear. Why didn't he get on television and raise hell to have the federal goverment provide masks? He could have used his popularity and 9-11 to get workers the proper safety equipment.

"Everyone on that site should have been fit-tested and wearing a respirator," Dr. Jacqueline Moline said, "and if they could not wear it 100 percent of the time, they should have been wearing it 95 percent of the time."

The Pentagon has not had the same level of illnesses. Workers were only allowed to work on site with the proper safety equipment. Why Ground Zero clean-up and reconstruction didn't operate under the same guidelines is a question that needs to be addressed? Unfortunately, America's Mayor isn't pressing for an answer.