I was in fifth grade in Queens NY that day. I remember teachers screaming and crying. The day was over and we were told to read. Parents taking kids out one by one with names being called over the speakers. I was excited when mines was called till I say my mother covered in Tower dust crying.
Asbestos was used in buildings back then plus all the damage to the building left the dust in the air extremely toxic. It’s been linked to multiple cancer cases, like exceeding the death toll of 9/11 itself! Our gov didn’t provide any healthcare to these ppl.
If you look up “The Dust Lady” you’ll find more/better info on the subject. 🩷
omg that’s terrible. I remember my high school still had asbestos on the roof (and I graduated in 2021) and there were tons of protests by teachers and parents about it in my school and other old schools but the government did nothing about it.
Asbestos in old buildings is incredibly common and so long as it’s not deteriorating or being broken apart and drilled into (making the fibres airborne and breathable) it’s generally fine.
Two gigantic towers collapsing containing asbestos is a public health disaster. And it’s sad that America spent way more money fighting overseas than helping heal its own citizens.
Unfortunately every commercial or government or healthcare building constructed before the 80s, even 90s had asbestos in it. Vinyl composite tiles? Asbestos. Insulation? Asbestos. Pipe wrap? Asbestos. Void fill? Asbestos. Acoustic tiles? Asbestos.
And as far as I am aware, it is still, to this day, the best material for that we have. We just accept a faster fire spread in the event so that we do not have to deal with asbestos as much.
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u/Milestailsprowe 15h ago
I was in fifth grade in Queens NY that day. I remember teachers screaming and crying. The day was over and we were told to read. Parents taking kids out one by one with names being called over the speakers. I was excited when mines was called till I say my mother covered in Tower dust crying.
This country was never the same after