Air Masks at Issue in Claims of 9/11 Illnesses

[DoYouEverWonder]

June 5, 2006

With mounting evidence that exposure to the toxic smoke and ash at ground zero during the nine-month cleanup has made many people sick, attention is now focusing on the role of air-filtering masks, or respirators, that cost less than $50 and could have shielded workers from some of the toxins.

More than 150,000 such masks were distributed and only 40,000 people worked on the pile, but most workers either did not have the masks or did not use them.

These respirators are now at the center of a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of more than 8,000 firefighters, police officers and private workers who say they were exposed to toxic substances at or near ground zero that have made them sick or may eventually do so. While residents and office workers in the area also suffered ill effects, the work crews at the site who had the greatest exposure are thought to have sustained the greatest harm.

From legal documents presented in the case, a tale emerges of heroic but ineffective efforts to protect workers, with botched opportunities, confused policies and contradictions that failed to ensure their safety.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/05/nyregion/05masks.html?hp&ex=1149566400&en=6b2198621f3da2e4&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[elehhhhna]

1. No mention of the publicly issued LIES from the EPA? Hmmm.

[lonecentrist]

2. If they had to use OSHA standards

That place would still be 1/2 full.

Sounds like people didnt like the idea of wearing a mask all day. Ive seen it many times before of the job. 90F and a respirator isnt that comfortable especially if your putting in 28 hour days.

[oneighty]

3. An effective

particle filtering respirator is difficult to breathe with while putting forth meaningful physical effort and when filtering properly will quickly clog up.

They are almost useless-truth to tell.

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