{
  "id": 6409826,
  "title": "New Yorkers were ‘lied’ to about toxic air after 9/11 attacks, says Mamdani",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/new-yorkers-were-lied-to-about-toxic-air-after-9-11-attacks-says",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T10:08:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/new-yorkers-were-lied-to-about-toxic-air-after-9-11-attacks-says-mamdani/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed that New Yorkers were misled about the toxic air quality following the 9/11 attacks, despite officials downplaying health risks. Asbestos was detected \"nearly everywhere\" tested near Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center towers collapsed. Mayor Mamdani stated that people became ill due to trusting their leaders who falsely assured them it was safe to breathe in toxic air. The release of 170,000 documents related to the attacks claims that illnesses tied to dust and smoke have surpassed the 2,991 fatalities from the attacks themselves. Thousands have suffered health effects like cancer due to inhaling hazardous contaminants. A 2001 \"Harding Memo\" warned of potential legal claims of up to 35,000 after the city advised citizens it was safe to return to Ground Zero. City officials instructed residents to clean up debris using wet mops despite the presence of asbestos, which requires licensed professionals only. The EPA's declaration of safe air near the towers has since been acknowledged as an error by former head Christine Todd Whitman. The release of documents settles a lawsuit filed by 9/11 Health Watch, which has been battling for transparency since the 25th anniversary of the attacks. The newly released files will be available online and over the next year. The families of victims, like Karen Klingon and Phil Alvarez, have been fighting for justice as their loved ones developed cancer and other illnesses from the toxins in the air.",
  "summary": "Toxic air quality was being recorded in Manhattan soon after the 9/11 attacks even as officials played down health risks to the public, according to a trove of newly released files.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}