The World Trade Center Health Program reports that over 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. As of March 2025, 8,215 people who had enrolled in the program have died, including 5,844 responders, according to the CDC. Mordechai Shedrowitzky, a volunteer EMT who responded on 9/11, shared his personal story of long-term health effects due to exposure, which led to multiple hospitalizations and major surgery. The article highlights the ongoing physical toll on survivors who were present at Ground Zero, with many experiencing worsening symptoms years after the attack.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Those who were present at Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, continue to experience the physical effects of their exposure.
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who → continue → exposure
As Lower Manhattan was engulfed in dust and debris from the remnants of both towers, first responders and survivors were forced to breathe in toxic air.
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responders → engulf → air
More than 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants, physical-injury risks and stressful conditions in the days, weeks and months following the attacks, according to the World Trade Center Health Program.
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people → expose → Program
As of March 2025, 8,215 people who had enrolled in the WTC Health Program had died, including 5,844 responders, as reported by the CDC.
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who → enrol → CDC
The figures include deaths from all causes; the program does not track whether a member’s death was related to 9/11 exposure.
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death → include → exposure
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Mordechai Shedrowitzky, a volunteer EMT who responded on 9/11, shared how his exposure led to multiple hospitalizations and, ultimately, major surgery.
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exposure → respond → hospitalizations
Queens-born Shedrowitzky, 51, was living in Brooklyn at the time of the attacks.
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Shedrowitzky → bear → attacks
After helping cover his local area for much of the day, he headed into Lower Manhattan that evening to assist with the response.
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he → help → response
"My most vivid memory was actually entering Manhattan from Brooklyn," he said.
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he → enter → Brooklyn
"As we approached the tunnel, the first thing we noticed was there were no lights, there was no electricity in the area, it [was] pitch black."
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it → approach → area
"When we entered the tunnel, there was a tremendous amount of swirling debris, at speeds that I just can't even imagine."
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I → enter → that
Once Shedrowitzky and his team arrived at South Street Seaport, where his ambulance was staged with others, he described the debris as "overwhelming."
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he → arrive → debris
"I remember the engine actually sputtering at times," he said.
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he → remember → times
"I would imagine that it was taking in a tremendous amount of dust."
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it → imagine → dust
And therefore, we did spend a significant amount of time outside of the ambulances, just commiserating with the people around us."
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Shedrowitzky said he "thought it was over" once he left the scene.
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But years later, he noticed small symptoms that were turning into a big problem.
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His pre-existing asthma — which typically flared during seasonal changes and caused coughing that required an inhaler — was worsening each year.
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that → flare → inhaler
"I started to require oral steroids," he said.
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he → start → steroids
"I would have wheezing; I would have coughing.
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It would last longer; it would be more serious ...
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I wouldn't be able to go to work, wouldn’t be able to take care of my kids.
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So, the effects were definitely increasing over time."
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Shedrowitzky added that his condition was "getting to the point where it was leading to frequent respiratory infections and hospitalizations."
"It took a number of years, many years, for us to realize that what was going on with my health was probably related to 9/11."
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going → add → 9/11
In 2019, Shedrowitzky described that his condition got "significantly worse," after experiencing a cough that wouldn’t resolve itself, even after the "highest doses" of steroids and antibiotics.
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that → describe → steroids
Shedrowitzky ultimately was put in touch with the World Trade Center Health Program – a federal program administered by the CDC – where his condition was classified as 9/11-related and was monitored.
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condition → put → CDC
It was eventually confirmed that Shedrowitzky had tracheobronchomalacia, a condition in which the walls of the windpipe and major airways weaken and collapse during breathing.
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[It] was probably secondary to both the asthma getting worse as well as steroid use over the years to try to treat those symptoms," he said.
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he → get → symptoms
In 2024, Shedrowitzky underwent a procedure called a tracheobronchoplasty to structurally reinforce his trachea and main bronchi.
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Two years after the procedure, he said he is feeling "much better," although he still experiences occasional infections.
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He hopes to return to work as a physical therapist soon.
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"Even a couple of months ago, I wouldn't have been able to speak for more than a very short time," Shedrowitzky said.
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"It took many years for us to realize that what was going on with my health was probably related to 9/11."
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going → take → 9/11
As a father of six, Shedrowitzky – who is now also a grandfather of two – said his condition made it difficult for him to spend time with his children as they were growing up.
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they → say → children
"Things as simple as lifting my children, even speaking to them," he said.
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he → lift → them
"The amount of time that I spent in the hospital and its effect on them was quite significant.
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"Now, they're older, but my ability to spend time, interact with them ... has been greatly improved."
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ability → spend → them
Treating 9/11-related illnesses
Dr. Denise Harrison, medical director of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine WTC Health Program Clinical Center of Excellence, has been involved in post-9/11 healthcare since 2002.
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Harrison → treat → 2002
The program has since grown to provide screening, monitoring and treatment for people experiencing health effects related to their 9/11 exposure.
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program → grow → exposure
The doctor noted that the dust on 9/11 was "highly alkaline," which can be "very irritating" to the airways.
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which → note → airways
…and 15 more, not listed.
