Fallout: The Environmental Consequences of the World Trade Center Collapse

by Juan González

Within days of the September 11th attack in New York City, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman, together with Time Man of the Year Rudy Giuliani, reassured New Yorkers that air "contaminants are either not detectable or are below the Agency's concern levels." In fact, EPA tests taken at the time showed high concentrations of toxic materials in the air downtown, including asbestos, dioxins, and heavy metals. Con Edison and the Port Authority revealed―two months after the attack―that nearly 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel and transformer oils, much of it contaminated with low-level PCBs, had escaped beneath Ground Zero. And independent measurements of indoor air, widespread because the agency declined to test private buildings, showed astronomically higher readings. Prizewinning journalist Juan Gonzalez argues that public officials misled New Yorkers about the real dangers of toxic contamination after September 11. Their failure may have profound effects on the long-term health of New Yorkers and the reputation of the ex-mayor.

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Juan Gonzalez, a New York Daily News columnist, has lived in the United States for fifty of his fifty-one years. His numerous honors include the 1998 George Polk Award for excellence in journalism and the Hispanic Academy of Media Arts and Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award. Born in Puerto Rico, he grew up in a barrio housing project and was a cofounder of the 1960s Young Lords. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Jason Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s amazing to think that out of the wake of September 11th, Giuliani was revered as the mayor of NYC. Once the dust settled, Juan González reveals who all the heroes really were and who put the lives and health of thousands of NYC residents at risk.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opener of a book. It puts the scale of the WTC collapse, in an environmental perspective, in another light. Although the buildings are gone, the physical effects of their demise will linger for many years. This book details how this happened and what could have been done to reduce the damage.

[C Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read book for first responders of 9-11

[Thomas Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given how early this book came out, and how spot on it has been proven to be, I think it deserved the P Prize. Just outstanding

[Gustavo Mendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Makes me mad that Giuliani got away with poor management and deceiving people for months on end. This book inspired me to read his other book: A History of Latinos in America, Harvest of Empire.

[Fallopia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The health effects of the collapse of all 7 buildings in the WTC complex are still being felt by those that were in its vicinity; the World Trade Center health program is still paying out benefits to victims who have contracted cancer and respiratory ailments from the toxic particles in the air.

Juan González wrote a tremendous yet succinct book about the implications of this environmental nightmare; immediately after the tragedy—9/12, in fact—I went to volunteer for my friend Joel Kupferman, an environmental lawyer mentioned in this book, who still runs the New York Environmental Law and Justice Project (NYELJP.)

I recommend that anyone who has questions about this event and its immediate impact start by reading this book; it's likely to both open your eyes and raise further questions. Highly recommended.