Posted on July 17, 2025

“I want to know who knew–when–how dangerous it was.”

That powerful statement from FDNY firefighter Andy Ansbro, who has survived cancer three times since responding to the September 11th attacks in New York City, reverberates 24 years later as this week the City Council unanimously passed a resolution to order an official investigation into what City knew about the toxic dangers of Ground Zero, when they knew it, and why they failed to act transparently.

This is more than overdue accountability. It is essential in our fight to prevent future public health catastrophes and ensure asbestos and other known carcinogens are no longer ignored for fear of liability. For years, first responders, survivors, journalists, and public health advocates have tried to obtain documents about the site using Freedom of Information Law requests. Time and again, they were told the records either didn’t exist or couldn’t be released.

But now, with Resolution 560-A, the Council has invoked a rarely used power in the City Charter to force an independent investigation. This is the first time that authority has ever been exercised, demonstrating the gravity of the issue and the urgency of truth.

“The suppression of the full truth remains a serious issue today. Many people mistakenly believe that asbestos is already banned in the United States—it’s not,” said Dr. Raja Flores, Professor and Chairman of Thoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. “We urgently need legislation to ban its import and prevent further needless loss of life.”

Council Member Gale Brewer, who led the charge, said it best:

“This legislation is about responsive, transparent, and accountable government. The remaining residents and survivors of the September 11 attacks are deeply interested in what the city knew about the hazards of that period, and when.”

We know the Ground Zero disaster site was filled with asbestos, lead, dioxins, and other toxic substances. Despite this, the EPA told the public the air was safe to breathe. We now know that was a lie. As a result, more people have died from this toxic exposure than died in the attacks themselves.

We can not allow science and truth to be silenced or manipulated at the expense of public health. The toxic exposure from 9/11 and the official silence that followed should serve as a clarion call: We must have transparency, accountability, and proactive prevention. Not after the next disaster, but before.

“We couldn’t control the terrorists or the tragedy of that day—but we do control how we respond to its aftermath,” said, Dr. Andrea Wolf, Director, New York Mesothelioma Program at Mount Sinai; Professor of Thoracic Surgery, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.  “That includes telling the truth about exposure and taking action to stop ongoing harm. This moment underscores the urgency of banning asbestos now.”

The Asbestos Connection

It is also why the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act, federal legislation to finally ban all forms of asbestos in the United States, must be passed. Named after my late husband, Alan, the bill represents the hundreds of thousands of Alans who have died from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related cancers. 

The 9/11 toxins crisis reminds us why ARBAN matters:

  • Asbestos was a major component of the toxic dust at Ground Zero.
  • The U.S. continues to allow asbestos to be used and imported into the United States, even after 70+ countries around the world have banned it 
  • There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos, and we can not manage the risk of the asbestos we already have in our homes, workplaces, and infrastructure. Even if we never suffer an attack like 9/11 again, asbestos exposure is deadly. It can be triggered by increasingly strong natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, and wildfires, which are occurring more frequently.

ARBAN would stop the importation, manufacture, and distribution of asbestos. It would close the gaps in public policy that leave us vulnerable to asbestos exposure.

Prevention is only possible when governments are transparent, science isn’t suppressed, and victims are heard. As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the dust has settled, but the suffering has not. Survivors, responders, and their families deserve more than empty condolences. They deserve the truth, and they deserve action.

What You Can Do

  • Share the news about the NYC investigation and support Resolution 560-A.
  • Urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor and pass the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act.
  • Tell your story. If you or a loved one was impacted by asbestos or 9/11 exposure, speak out.

Prevention is the cure. But it begins with truth, and that time is now.

Linda Reinstein