9/11 Plaguing DC 37 Member

WASHINGTON, D.C.

"For the record, I have no doubt in my mind that my exposure to poisonous toxins at Ground Zero will eventually kill me." Ron Vega, a member of New York City's Local 375 (DC 37), brought a hush to the hearing room on Capitol Hill when he made that statement in late February before the U.S. House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations. Testifying as one of several witnesses, the 43-year-old construction design manager cited his own medical examination results, which show high levels of mercury and arsenic in his blood, causing severe stress, frequent headaches, shortness of breath and other illnesses related to the World Trade Center attacks.

Along with co-workers from the city's Department of Design and Construction, Vega was deployed at Ground Zero for 300 days, putting in 10-hour shifts seven days a week, amid chemicals, smoke, fire and odors from human remains. "Our members worried about the long-term health effects of toxins and other pollutants," Vega said. "But no one wanted to get tested for fear that the results would reveal serious health or mental concerns that would preclude us from working on the site. Instead, we continued day and night. We wanted to get the job done."

Representing DC 37 members who performed rescue and recovery tasks at Ground Zero on and after the disaster, Vega and others cited the inadequate and uncoordinated response by local, state and federal governments to the health needs of those who were affected by 9/11 and the huge clean-up operation that followed. The subcommittee is looking into related public health and safety issues.

Throughout its campaign to ensure proper medical care for its affected members, DC 37 has pointed out the need for special funding because of inadequate existing health care and workers' compensation systems.

A strong supporter of DC 37's cause, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) stressed the "need to know why those who are sick from their exposure to Ground Zero aren't getting the medical monitoring and treatment they need and deserve." She has asked the House Government Reform Committee to further address the public health impacts of the 9/11 attacks.