Cancers Among NYPD Up Five-Fold Since 9/11, Say Officials

New York City police officers involved in any number of recovery operations in the wake of 9/11 are at a serious increased risk of developing cancer, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University.

The researchers examined medical records of police officers between the years 1995 and 2011 and found, overall, a five-fold risk increase for these police officers. The findings were made public in a press briefing by Dr. Eli Kleinman, the NYPD's chief surgeon, and NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly.

The study

Researchers found a total of just under 600 cancers of all subtypes among approximately 34,000 officers, plus retirees, over the 16-year study period.

"This is an advisory that something has raised its head and police officers need to be aware of it," said Kleinman.

The study found that a specific type of thyroid cancer has increased among NYPD cops by a factor of 10 since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, while cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma have increased by 3.5 since the attacks.

Kelly explained: "The purpose of this announcement is to, number one, get people to pay attention to their health and if they are in that universe ... get yourself checked out."

The commissioner added that at least 57 police officers have died from what are believed to be illnesses linked to the recovery work at Ground Zero.

Advocates for first responders from 9/11 note that a recent study from April of nearly 21,000 responders who took part in both rescue and recovery that day found a 15 percent overall increased risk of developing cancer compared to the general population.

Source: NYPD