More 9/11 firefighters suffer from lung problems

Staff Writer

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The New York Post reported this week on a new study finding that as many as 26 Ground Zero firefighters have contracted an inflammatory lung sickness called sarciodosis since 9/11.

The findings of this study have raised frustration levels among the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, a group that says the NYPD as not acknowledged 9/11-induced sarciodosis in police officers who served at Ground Zero.

While the FDNY has acknoweledged that many of its brave firefighters who served on 9/11 have contracted this lung disorder at a much higher rate than those who served before the terrorist attacks, the NYPD has rejected some medical bill reimbursements for police officers who served at that time.

The news story states:

Half the firefighter cases were diagnosed in the first year after 9/11 - a rate six times higher than the average for the Bravest in the 15 years before 9/11, according to a paper to be published in CHEST, a medical journal.

The results "strongly argue for improved respiratory protection" at future fires, disasters and toxic sites, says the report, whose authors include FDNY top doctors David Prezant and Kerry Kelly.