New York hid records on air quality after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Documents now available prove that New York authorities were aware that the air around the Twin Towers was toxic, containing dangerous substances for human health.
Despite this knowledge, authorities misled the population, leading them to believe it was safe to breathe the air in the area surrounding the World Trade Center. This information was hidden for years, preventing residents and workers in the area from taking appropriate precautions to protect their health.
The revealed documents demonstrate that municipal and federal government were aware of the environmental risks from the earliest days after the collapse of the towers. Prolonged exposure to these toxins has been associated with various respiratory diseases and other health conditions among survivors and workers in the area.




