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9/11 Responders Show Increased Risk of Rare Blood Cancer

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 10, 2009 12:27 PM CDT

(Newser) – The incidence of multiple myeloma in 9/11 responders appears to be higher than in the general population, according to what one researcher calls "very preliminary" stats. Eight cases of the blood cancer were diagnosed in 28,000 emergency personnel followed between 2001 and 2007; statistically, that number should be closer to six. And four of the eight men diagnosed, all law enforcement officers, were under 45, very young to have developed the disease, HealthDay News reports.

“A person is 10 times more likely to get myeloma when they're 70 than when they're 45,” the lead author of the study says. The result “could turn out to be a statistical fluke and means nothing or it could be the tip of the iceberg and we'll see an increase in the next 10 years,” an expert says, though “it makes biological sense.”

The World Trade Center site is shown Tuesday, May 12, 2009.
The World Trade Center site is shown Tuesday, May 12, 2009.   (AP Photo)
Family members of those who died during the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center gather at a reflecting pool at Ground Zero during a commemoration ceremony at on the seventh anniversary.
Family members of those who died during the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center gather at a reflecting pool at Ground Zero during a commemoration ceremony at on the seventh anniversary.   (AP Photo)
Firefighters watch as smoke rises from the site of the World Trade Center collapse September 11, 2001 in New York City.
Firefighters watch as smoke rises from the site of the World Trade Center collapse September 11, 2001 in New York City.   (Getty Images)
Excavation work continues at the Ground Zero site of the World Trade Center January 4, 2002 in New York City.
Excavation work continues at the Ground Zero site of the World Trade Center January 4, 2002 in New York City.   (Getty Images)
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Multiple myeloma is associated with an increased exposure to certain chemicals. It has never been shown with inhaled chemicals but this amount of exposure probably did get into the blood. - Mitchell Smith, Fox Chase Cancer Center

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
cognitivefilter
Aug 11, 2009 6:12 AM CDT
scooter--fire doesn't take down buildings. plenty of steel skyscrapers have had fires lasting +20 hours and didn't come down. jet fuel burns at a lower temperature than steel, genius. the whole thing didn't come down by itself.
NewserScooter
Aug 11, 2009 5:18 AM CDT
WTC 7 collapsed after the top other WTC fell on it. It was on fire most of the day, before it collapsed. There were no explosives found. And BTW you don't catch myeloma from people that have had it.
NewserScooter
Aug 11, 2009 5:16 AM CDT
Flame, tons of material survived the impact of planes, esp if it was thrown from the debris field by the impact. 1 engine flew through the building and landed a block or two away.

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