911 deaths:Epidemiologists said it will take 20 to prove..Duh, give 10 minutes!

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Official worried about 2nd wave of 9/11 victims

Autopsy linking detective's death to ground zero's toxic dust a warning sign

Stan Honda /

AFP file

Marcy Borders was caught outside as one of the World Trade Center towers

collapsed and a cloud of smoke and dust enveloped the area. Officials are

concerned about the possible longterm health effects of the dust.

(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12467374/displaymode/1176/rstry/12466875/)

Updated: 7:54 p.m. ET April 24, 2006

WASHINGTON - The government’s point man on Sept. 11 health programs said he

is worried that an autopsy linking a retired detective’s death to recovery

work at ground zero may be a warning sign of other life-threatening cases.

Dr. also said it will take time to determine whether there is a

scientific link between deaths and exposure to toxic dust. Some

epidemiologists have said it will take 20 years or more to prove such a link.

, who is to meet in New York this week with congressional leaders

about ground zero health issues, was tapped by the Bush administration in

February to coordinate the federal response to ongoing Sept. 11 health

programs.

That role took on greater urgency with the April release of retired Det.

Zadroga’s autopsy, which concluded “with a reasonable degree of

medical

certainty that the cause of death in this case was directly related to the

9/11 incident.†The autopsy said Zadroga died in January of respiratory

failure

caused by exposure to toxic dust.

, whose day job is overseeing the National Institute of Occupational

Safety and Health, told The Associated Press in a recent interview the autopsy

was “worrisome, and we need to look further in this case.â€

Doctors and government officials worry Zadroga’s death may be a so-called

sentinel case, an early harbinger of future deaths from such exposure.

“You have a particular case with characteristics that are unusual,â€

said.

He cited Zadroga’s relatively young age, 34, and diseased heart muscle. “

Just based on that, you would say, gee, is this a sentinel case?†he said.

“

This may be a warning and requires attention and vigilance.â€

Click for related story

_9/11 autopsy renews rescuer fears_ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12409036/)

said his primary goal is to find out how many ground zero workers are

suffering ill effects.

“The first issue is treatment. That is primary,†he said.

Rep. Vito Fossella, R-N.Y., said he was pleased is aggressively

examining cases like the Zadroga death.

“Clearly and sadly, Detective Zadroga and perhaps others will be the first

of a wave of those who become the secondary victims of 9/11, though they

didn’

t go down with the towers,†Fossella said.

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