Thousands of New York City Firefighters Treated for WTC Illness

Shannon Weidemann

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The New York City Fire Department has over 5,000 workers being treated for an illness, emotional problem or disease related to the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. That is 45% of the firefighters and EMS that worked for the department on September 11th. An unknown number of people are suffering from World Trade Center Illnesses.

About 3,000 firefighters and EMS workers are receiving counseling for emotional problems. Another 1,500 are suffering respiratory ailments.

There are also between 600 and 1,000 FDNY members -- most of whom retired after 9/11 -- currently receiving prescription medication for a variety of illnesses, from asthma and gastrointestinal disease to depression and anxiety.

The department will be using federal funds to help pay for prescription drugs rather than workers' compensation insurance.

For more information on this subject, pleade refer to our Workplace Injuries and Discrimination section.