Surge in 9/11-Related Cancer Cases Among Civilians

The number of cancer cases linked to the September 11 attacks has seen an alarming rise among residents, students, and workers in lower Manhattan. Recent data indicates a staggering increase of 1,680% over the past ten years, surpassing the number of cases reported among first responders who faced prolonged exposure to toxic debris. This information, highlighted by the New York Post, comes as we approach the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

Since 2015, the cancer diagnoses for those who lived, worked, or studied near the World Trade Center site—often referred to as The Pile—have skyrocketed from 3,204 cases to 57,044 in 2026, according to the World Trade Center Health Program (WTC Health).

The rise in cancer cases is attributed to a cocktail of toxins released during the World Trade Center collapse. The destruction of the buildings and ensuing fires left behind a harmful cloud composed of over 70 known carcinogens, such as asbestos, benzene, jet fuel, and a mix of heavy metals, glass, and cement.

“Sadly, we lose roughly two clients a day and see a new cancer certification every 50 minutes,” remarked attorney Michael Barasch, who represents numerous individuals enrolled in the WTC Health Program.

It’s crucial to understand that the survivor population—over 300,000 individuals including local residents, office employees, and students—is far greater than the approximately 90,000 first responders present at Ground Zero.

Moreover, while first responders were monitored in health programs quite early on, many civilians were left unaware for years about their eligibility for the same benefits through the World Trade Center Health Program.

Cancer cases among survivors have now reached a total of 28,913, reflecting an astonishing 4,066% increase from just 694 cases in 2015, with responders contributing an additional 28,131 cases.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of June, 67% of the 145,275 members of the WTC Health Program have been diagnosed with at least one of the 69 cancers linked to toxins from 9/11. This figure is significantly higher than the national average, which the National Cancer Institute estimates at about 40% of the general U.S. population.

“9/11 did not end on 9/11. The cancer clock is ticking 24/7,” Barasch stressed.

Interestingly, many of the reported cancer cases involve rare types of the disease. For instance, there have been 82 cases of thymus gland cancer, which affects a small organ located in the upper chest, representing less than 1% of all cases. Further, there are 591 reported cases of neuroendocrine cancers—tumors that usually develop in areas like the pancreas or lungs—and these have increased by 6% among 9/11 survivors between March and June.