Firefighters ill
The week's news at a glance.
New York
Many New York firefighters who were engulfed by the smoke and dust that poured from the collapsing World Trade Center towers have developed chronic breathing problems, and as many as 500 may have to retire, health officials announced this week. Today, 358 firefighters and five emergency medical workers can still only handle light duty, or none at all, because of coughing, shortness of breath, and other symptoms. Many of the city’s 11,000-plus firefighters have told doctors they fear they could develop serious lung diseases or cancer from microfine dust, pulverized asbestos, and chemical fumes they inhaled. “We’re never going to know the full scale of what firefighters were exposed to on that day,” said Dr. David Prezant, the Fire Department’s deputy chief medical officer.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published