March 06, 2006

Nearly five years after the September 11th attacks, health and environmental concerns continue to grow. In the following report, NY1 Health Reporter Kafi Drexel takes a look at a group that's spending this week trying to put a spotlight on those concerns.

They call it World Trade Center Health Week. The group World Cares has helped hundreds of rescue workers, volunteers and community members since 9/11.

Now, through a series of panel discussions and demonstrations, they're trying to draw attention to the ongoing environmental and health concerns.

“This health week is very important because when the Twin Towers fell we had over 2,000 pounds of asbestos and 400,000 pounds of concrete that turned into toxic dust, and we had not only community, but rescue workers and volunteers and caregivers that were breathing those fumes,” says Lisa Orloff, the Executive Director and founder of World Cares.

Topping the list of concerns is finding out the latest information on what's going on with the deconstruction of damaged buildings like the Deutsche Bank, which is still standing. Community members are getting some answers from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and information from environmental groups like the Sierra Club.

Even newcomers have concerns. Joy Yagama moved from upstate New York to Lower Manhattan this past summer.

“It's obvious there's still a problem,” she says. “From my apartment window I can see stuff. I'm on the tenth floor, stuff literally flies around in the air, and it's not the birds.”

In addition to addressing environmental concerns, this week there are health demonstrations to help people with physical and emotional healing. The featured events are a taste of the services World Cares has been providing since the attacks at its September Space locations in Midtown and Lower Manhattan.

Christopher Jenkins was a volunteer rescue worker after 9/11. Still coping with respiratory issues, dizziness and post-traumatic stress, he says the services through group provides have been extremely helpful.

“They've been fantastic at just having my overall sense of well-being return and be maintained during a time of extra stress in my life,” he says.

Something else that could indicate just how much this space is needed is that between the two centers they see 150 to 200 people a week. World Cares says that they just want to remind people that they're services are here, available, and they are free.

World Trade Center Health Week runs through Friday, March 10th, but services are always available. For more information you can visit the World Cares web site at www.worldcares.org or call 646-289-3098.