As EPA officials continue to affirm that the air around Ground Zero is perfectly safe for breathing (cough, cough, yeah right), many brave enough to lend to the rescue and recovery efforts of that day continue to experience long reaching health problems. The Post reports today of a class-action lawsuit alleging that "an alarming number of" workers have developed and died from brain tumors linked to 9/11 environmental exposures. This includes six NYPD cops as well as firemen, a Red Cross social worker, and, ironically, a city environmental protection worker.
The exact cause of brain cancer remains unclear. While several types of brain tumors run in families, most are without identifiable risk factors. Radiation, certain chemicals, and, yes, cellular phones, have been suggested andecdotally, but remain controversial.
