Chinatown is located in the heart of the 9/11 crash site disaster area. Its residents, workers, students, and visitors were all heavily exposed to the 9/11 dust and fumes, not just on 9/11, but also through the end of 2001 and into the middle of 2002. As a result of this toxic exposure, just by being present in Chinatown in 2001 and 2002, thousands of these residents, workers, and visitors have been diagnosed with a 9/11 related cancer and, in many cases, died from the complications of a 9/11 cancer or breathing condition.
