More than 20 years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the full effect of the health impacts is still being understood. As time passed, a health crisis began to emerge involving chronic illness, cancer, respiratory disease, digestive disorders, and long-term mental health conditions among 9/11 responders, victims, and others present in the aftermath of the attacks.
What began as short-term emergency response research has evolved into one of the most comprehensive public health monitoring efforts in the history of the United States. From early studies focused on dust exposure to ongoing cancer surveillance, 9/11 health research has informed the support available to the 9/11 community and has reshaped how the nation responds to environmental disaster and mass trauma.
