WORLD TRADE CENTER (SEPTEMBER 11, 2001): Explosions
resulting from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York
City released massive amounts of dust into the air. The air was measured for
dioxins and found to be the highest concentration of dioxins that has ever
been reported in history, averaging 5.6 parts per trillion, or nearly six times
the highest dioxin level ever recorded in the U.S., with dioxin levels in the
rubble measured at 170 parts per trillion. More than 37,000 first responders
and survivors have been declared sick due to exposure, and more than 1,100
have died.TOBACCO SMOKE
Cigarette smoke contains almost 5,000 chemical compounds including 60 known
carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals). Cigarette smoking and other forms of
inhaling tobacco smoke are responsible for 85% of lung cancers and are also
associated with cancers of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas,
kidney, bladder, and colon. Tobacco smoke has also been linked to leukemia,
strokes, and heart attacks.
Cigarettes are smoked by about 20% of the world’s population—over 1
billion people, the majority of which are men. While smoking rates have leveled
off or declined in developed nations, especially among men, in developing
nations, tobacco consumption continues to rise. More than 80% of all smokers
now live in countries with low or middle incomes, and 60% are in just 10
countries, with China ranked number one with about 3 trillion cigarettes
consumed per year.