14 ground zero search dogs have died since 9/11, 8 from cancer - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

MSD · 08-23-2004, 09:41 AM

http://www.local6.com/news/3672829/detail.html

Quote:

NEW YORK -- Fourteen search and rescue dogs who dug through the rubble of the World Trade Center have since died.

Eight of the dogs died from cancer.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine said they don't believe there is a connection between the deaths and the chemicals the dogs were exposed to.

But the New York Daily News said some dog owners blame the mix of chemicals their dogs were exposed to during the hunt for survivors and remains after the attack on Sept. 11, 2001.

And the lead author of the study said the surviving dogs will need to be monitored for the rest of their lives. Dr. Cynthia Otto said if they begin to have health problems, there is a good chance that people who worked to clear the site could have problems as well.

At first, I was somewhat worried by htis, then I started thinking. I would assume that search dogs are probably exposed to a lot of bad stuff repeatedly, and it makes sense that they would have a higher cancer rate regardless of individual jobs they've done. I'm pretty sure that just inhaling all that dust can cause lung damage, and I've always been warend that inhaling dust raises the risk of lung cancer, etc.

djtestudo · 08-23-2004, 09:53 AM

The WTC was built in the early '70s, so it seems to me that most likely there were various things (lead, asbestos, etc.) in the buildings, especially the core and other uninhabited areas, that could cause major problems like this.

I'm not any sort of expert, but it makes sense to me.

onetime2 · 08-23-2004, 10:02 AM

Without knowing ages, backgrounds, search areas at the site, other contributing factors, and, of course, how many search dogs in total were used and their current cancer status this data is virtually useless.

rsl12 · 08-23-2004, 12:28 PM

EPA has been looking into this issue for some time now. asbestos and particulate matter are the major concerns. check here if you're interested:

http://www.epa.gov/wtc/

ratbastid · 08-23-2004, 12:31 PM

I've seen this story quote on a dozen or so major blogs today. It's nuts--as onetime2 says, there's no data in this story. I'd love to be outraged and worried for the cleanup workers, but frankly I don't have anything to go on.

Redlemon · 08-23-2004, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onetime2

Without knowing ages, backgrounds, search areas at the site, other contributing factors, and, of course, how many search dogs in total were used and their current cancer status this data is virtually useless.

Along with the cancer rate in search dogs not used at the WTC. I'm sure all this information was in the original reports, but the reporters couldn't be bothered to supply any useful data.

World's King · 08-23-2004, 01:03 PM

WILL SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN.

Redlemon · 08-23-2004, 01:17 PM

This seems to be the orginal story: New York Daily News - City News - 14 WTC search dogs dead

Quote:

Fourteen search and rescue dogs have died since their exposure to toxic rubble from the Sept. 11 terrorist attack - including eight from cancer, according to a study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. But researchers believe there is no connection between the deaths and the chemicals they were exposed to.

Despite the study's findings, some of the owners whose dogs have died still blame the toxic brew the dogs immersed themselves in during the hunt for survivors and remains.

"We can't find any link at this point that ties the 14 deaths to events of Sept. 11," said Dr. Cynthia Otto, the study's lead researcher. "Some have passed away, but the causes of death are no different than in the control group. That is good news."

Otto's team, which has been monitoring the health of 97 dogs who worked at Ground Zero, the Pentagon and the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, did find "significantly higher" antibodies in the search dogs in the first year after the terrorist attack.

The elevated presence of antibodies, she explained, showed the dogs had been exposed to foreign substances that pressed their immune systems into higher gear.

Although Otto was heartened to find the vast majority of dogs were in good health, given the exposure and the blood changes in the first year, questions remain about possible long-term effects.

"I don't think these dogs are completely out of the woods," she said. "That is why we need to monitor these dogs until the end of their lives - for the dogs' sake and for people's sake. If there is a problem in the dogs down the line, there is a good chance a similar problem could be found in people."

Among the canine deaths was Servus, a 12-year-old Belgian Malinois police dog, who had to be carried out on a stretcher from Ground Zero after he fell into a hole face down, his snout and lungs filled with concrete dust and ash. He died of pancreatitis, Otto said.

And Anna, a 4-year-old German shepherd who spent three days crawling on her belly trying to scent any survivors, was put down Aug. 2, 2002, ravaged by an unusual bone-eating fungal infection.

"Anna had been to the vet two months before she was deployed, and her blood work and X-rays were fine," said Sarah Atlas, a New Jersey emergency medical technician and Anna's handler. "I know the university did everything they could to help her, and they say that Anna was probably genetically predisposed to the disease, but in my heart I know what I feel."

John Gilkey, a Maryland firefighter, lost his 10-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, Bear, to hepatitis last September. The dog's liver tests were not normal before the eight nights he spent on the World Trade Center pile, and blood tests and a biopsy showed disease soon afterward.

"I was surprised," Gilkey said, when he got the medical results. "But to be perfectly honest, I don't think Bear was made sick by the World Trade Center." Fighting back emotion, Gilkey added, "Bear and I had 21 months together after the diagnosis. I miss him terribly."

Dr. Philip Fox of Manhattan's Animal Medical Center, who has been monitoring the health of 30 New York City police dogs who worked at the World Trade Center, agreed with Otto's findings.

"These dogs have not been inundated by suspicious or debilitating diseases that we were afraid might occur," Fox said.

"They all had lung irritation, eye irritation and coughing in the first few weeks, but they seem to be clinically healthy almost three years later, except for a couple of animals who died of cancer that would be expected, given their age and breed."

It sounds like a complete non-story with these additional quotes, especially the last paragraph.

analog · 08-23-2004, 02:58 PM

Onetime2 nailed it. This is not a story, this is the media jerkin' itself off to get attention on a non-news day. Pfft.

onetime2 · 08-24-2004, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redlemon

Along with the cancer rate in search dogs not used at the WTC. I'm sure all this information was in the original reports, but the reporters couldn't be bothered to supply any useful data.

Yep, also a critical piece of data.

08-23-2004, 09:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	The WTC was built in the early '70s, so it seems to me that most likely there were various things (lead, asbestos, etc.) in the buildings, especially the core and other uninhabited areas, that could cause major problems like this. I'm not any sort of expert, but it makes sense to me. __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

08-23-2004, 10:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
onetime2 Junkie Location: NJ	Without knowing ages, backgrounds, search areas at the site, other contributing factors, and, of course, how many search dogs in total were used and their current cancer status this data is virtually useless. __________________ Strive to be more curious than ignorant.

08-23-2004, 12:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	EPA has been looking into this issue for some time now. asbestos and particulate matter are the major concerns. check here if you're interested: http://www.epa.gov/wtc/ __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy.

08-23-2004, 01:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
World's King Here Location: Denver City Denver	WILL SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN. __________________ heavy is the head that wears the crown

08-23-2004, 12:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	I've seen this story quote on a dozen or so major blogs today. It's nuts--as onetime2 says, there's no data in this story. I'd love to be outraged and worried for the cleanup workers, but frankly I don't have anything to go on.

08-23-2004, 02:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
analog Banned	Onetime2 nailed it. This is not a story, this is the media jerkin' itself off to get attention on a non-news day. Pfft.