As New York City 's World Trade Center collapsed following the September 11 attacks , Lower Manhattan was blanketed in a mixture of building debris and combustible materials . This complex mixture gave rise to the concern that thousands of residents and workers in the area would be exposed to known hazards in the air and in the dust , such as asbestos , lead , glass fibers , and pulverized concrete . More than 1,000 tons of asbestos are thought to have been released into the air following the buildings ' destruction . Inhalation of a mixture of asbestos and other toxicants is thought to be linked to the unusually high death rate from cancer of emergency service workers since the disaster . Thousands more are now thought to be at risk of developing cancer due to this exposure with those who have died so far being only the " tip of the iceberg " . Some commentators have criticised authorities for using asbestos in the buildings ' construction
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Asbestos