WERE THOUSANDS OF WORLD TRADE CENTER RESPONDERS MISDIAGNOSED?

IS SARCOIDOSIS DIAGNOSIS REALLY CHRONIC BERYLLIUM DISEASE?

Thousands of firemen, policemen and other first responders who worked on “the pile” or "the pit" at the World Trade Center after 9/11 even for short amounts of time were potentially exposed to toxic levels of Beryllium which could result in a fatal disease known as Chronic Beryllium Disease.

Hundreds of World Trade Center responders have been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis disease, according to John Feal the founder and president of the non-profit Fealgood Foundation, an organization dedicated to the health and well being of 9/11 first responders.            

According to The American Lung Association:

Sarcoidosis is a disease caused by small areas of inflammation. It can affect any part of the body but is most common in the lungs—called pulmonary sarcoidosis. In pulmonary sarcoidosis, small patches of inflamed cells can appear on the lungs' small air sacs (alveoli), breathing tubes (bronchioles) or lymph nodes. The lungs can become stiff and may not be able to hold as much air as healthy lungs. In serious cases, sarcoidosis can cause scar tissue in the lungs, which can affect the lungs' ability to move oxygen into the bloodstream.

No one knows what causes sarcoidosis. The good news is that is it usually temporary. In half the cases, sarcoidosis heals naturally—without any treatment. In serious cases, healthcare providers may treat a patient's symptoms to help improve how well the lungs and other organs are working.

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) anyone who has been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis who had ever been exposed to Beryllium is automatically presumed to have Chronic Beryllium Disease.

On September 4, 2008, DEEOIC issued Circular No. 08-07 which states:

A diagnosis of sarcoidosis is not medically appropriate if there is a documented history of    Beryllium exposure. Rather, in these situations, the claims examiner is to consider the diagnosis of Sarcoidosis to be a diagnosis of Chronic Beryllium Disease.                                    

                              (EEOICPA OmbudsmenReport to Congress 2008)

The American Lung Association's Website's "List of Lung Diseases"  does not have any information or listing for Chronic Beryllium Disease.

Beryllium is the most toxic metal known to man.

Beryllium was in the American Airlines-Boeing made planes that were flown into the buildings that day.  When the firemen added water to the pit, a deadly toxic vapor was created that can cause  Chronic Beryllium Disease. The disease can take many years to present its’ symptoms, lying dormant sometimes for decades, but when it does present, it can be deadly as the scar tissue shuts down the lungs and there is no cure.

The fires at The World Trade Center should never have been fought with water and everyone who breathed in the vapor, dust and smoke that day and for months to follow were potentially exposed to toxic Beryllium and could be in danger of getting the fatal disease.  Even regular airplane fires should not be fought with water.

                                THE PREMATURE DEATH OF HEROES

According to John Feal who spoke with Freelance Investigations today, there is no question that Beryllium was in the pit.  "Everyone knows that Beryllium was there.  I've got eight and a half years of 9/11 "U" behind me and I consider myself intelligent enough to know that this has led to the premature death of heroes who risked their lives without prejudice a few years ago."  Mr. Feal spoke of the "toxic soup" in the pit:  "I believe the Beryllium added with all the other toxins like the Jet Fuel, Benzene, Mercury, pulverized cement and other contaminants all led to a toxic soup that we inhaled.  No one can deny that these toxins have caused serious injury and death.  When mixed all together, no one can say what the exposure could do."

In a video on the Fealgood Foundation website, John Fealgood said "The government has let us down... If we have money to kill we should have money to save lives."

Mr. Feal has a vested interest in the issues of 9/11 first responders and works tirelessly on their behalf.
On September 17, 2001 8,000 lbs. of steel fell on Mr. Feal's foot while he was working at the pit causing him to spend 10-11 weeks in the hospital with gangrene and sepsis. Eventually he underwent dozens of surgeries.  Despite his own physical issues- on August 14, 2007 John Feal donated a kidney to a perfect stranger.  Mr. Feal said he did it "To show America that people that basically have nothing can still help others.  People who have seen the bottom can rise to the top and continue to help others."


  HOW MUCH BERYLLIUM WAS IN “THE PIT”AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER?

It is difficult to ascertain the amount of Beryllium that was contained in the pit at the World Trade Center.  Mr. Feal said this issue of Beryllium at the site needs to be investigated further, "Because this is human life we are talking about right now."

Calls to Boeing by Freelance Investigations to determine the total amount of Beryllium contained in both the plane and the jet fuel were never returned.

The media representative for American Airlines who refused to give their name gave this quote when asked how much Beryllium was in the 757 and 767 planes that flew into the towers and ended up in the pit:  " We don't respond to 9/11 requests for information." 

Beryllium is used for the airline seats, luggage, clothing, golf clubs, cell phones, computers, landing gear, radar, brakes, the shell of the body of the plane, the turbine blades of the jet engines, electronics and also in the jet fuel and engine oil.   When Beryllium burns and water is poured onto the fire, it creates a toxic brew of dust, particles and Beryllium vapor that even when inhaled in small amounts can be deadly toxic. 

Pictures of the firemen fighting the fire at the Pentagon, show they were all wearing protective SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) and Haz-Mat suits while fighting the fire.  Perhaps this was because the military has known for decades that you do not pour water on a Beryllium Fire and you wear proper equipment when fighting one.

According to a study published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine, a seven year study with members of the New York City Fire Department;  rescuers who had significant declines in lung function a year after the attack had still not recovered, and the recorded drop in lung function was about 12 times the rate seen in normal aging. Since Sarcoidosis usually can heal and Chronic Beryllium Disease gets worse, why aren't World Trade Center responders and clean up crews being tested for Chronic Beryllium Disease?

Since Beryllium is now being used in so many non-military or civilian applications shouldn’t all fires be treated as if the possibility of Beryllium is being burned and shouldn't all firefighters have the proper equipment (SCBA gear and Haz-Mat suits) to keep themselves safe from toxic Beryllium vapors?

According to the National Jewish Health Reference Laboratories (NJHCRL) it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD).  A normal blood test result (where all values are equal or below the cutoff value of 2.5 in response to antigens) still does not exclude the diagnosis of Chronic Beryllium Disease.  They recommend a Beryllium lymphocyte transformation test using bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocytes.  Other doctors interviewed said that a tissue sample from the lung is the only real definitive test for Chronic Beryllium Disease.  Exposure to even a small amount of Beryllium in a vapor dust or particle form can be deadly toxic depending on the individual, according to the National Jewish Health website.

When misdiagnosed as Sarcoidosis and treated for that disease in error, irreparable harm can be done if the person really has Chronic Beryllium Disease.  

Freelance Investigations spoke to the law clerk in the chambers of Judge Alvin Hellerstein to ask if any of the attorneys or doctors trying to hash out a settlement had ever considered beryllium exposure to explain many unexplained symptoms that the workers have exhibited.  The law clerk declined to comment.  No one at the WTC site has been tested for the disease even though the symptoms match some of the sick workers.

Chronic Beryllium Disease and Beryllium Sensitivity Disease symptoms include but are not limited to:  rashes, dermatitis, conjunctivitis and eye ulcers, enlarged heart, kidney problems and chronic sinusitis.  If Beryllium in dust, vapor or particle form is introduced through the skin by a cut or puncture, non-healing ulcers may develop with target organs being; lungs, mucous membranes eyes and skin .

                                                    ( Genium Publishing Corporation-Beryllium Metal/Powder)

Beryllium production was halted by Brush Wellman, the nation’s largest producer of Beryllium, in 2000 primarily due to economic and occupational and health reasons according to William Greenwalt, the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Industrial Policy) for the United States.

Beryllium use in Europe is strictly limited and regulated by CERN, their nuclear regulatory agency which was already limiting future use and production for safety and health reasons as far back as 1985.

Beryllium production in the United States will continue unimpeded however.  Thanks to the need by the Department of Defense for the military and aerospace applications, a brand new facility was scheduled to open in Elmore, Ohio last month.

In testimony before the U.S.- China Economic and Security Review Commission regarding China’s Proliferation and the Impact of Trade Policy on Defense Industries in the United States and China dated July 13, 2007,  Greenwalt noted:

When absolutely necessary, the Department of Defense can intervene directly in the marketplace to create or expand domestic production capabilities as necessary to meet military requirements.  The department is doing so now to ensure it will continue to have access to high purity Beryllium metal.  Because of its’ unique properties (including high stiffness and strength to weight ratios, thermal conductivity and reflectivity to infrared wavelength) high purity Beryllium metal and its primary high Beryllium content alloy (Aluminum-Beryllium metal matrix composite or AlBeMet) have wide ranging defense applications including in sensors, structures and components in missiles, satellites, fighter and rotary aircraft and nuclear weapons.  Brush Wellman is the only Beryllium metal producer worldwide that can meet the Beryllium quality requirements of the highest purity defense and essential civilian applications. However, Brush Wellman mothballed its 40 year-old primary Beryllium metal production facility in October 2000 for economic and occupational health reasons.   Since then, Brush Wellman has relied on Beryllium cast ingot from the inventories of the National Defense Stockpile at the Defense Logistics Agency for the highest purity Beryllium material applications; and on less pure Beryllium metal acquired from Kazakhstan for production of AlBeMet.  To rectify this situation, the Department initiated a Defense Production Act Title III project jointly funded with Brush Wellman the design and construction of a new Beryllium metal production facility, scheduled for completion in 2010.

People who worked at Department of Energy facilities from the 1940’s to the present who were exposed to Beryllium, like Brookhaven National Laboratory and the former Hicksville-Sylvania Corning Plant are eligible for free medical care, testing and possible compensation (up to $400 thousand dollars per person) under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. (EEOICPA)

            DOE EMPLOYEES COVERED:  DOD EMPLOYEES ARE NOT...WHY NOT?

One big problem is that a person who stood next to the DOE employee at the same job, who was actually a Department of Defense worker, that person is not covered by the EEOICPA.  Why does the same level of toxic exposure have different levels of help for American workers?  Why are DOE workers covered for toxic exposure to Beryllium and not DOD workers at the same spot doing the same job?  One answer might be the astronomical costs associated with covering everyone.  So far the EEOICPA has paid out over 5.5 Billion dollars to EEOICPA claimants since 2001 when the law was enacted by President Clinton, that despite that fact that the Department of Labor has done a limited job of notification to DOE employees.  The Department of Labor claims they notified the employers and depended upon them to provide lists of employees to notify of benefits available to those exposed.  Many companies refused to supply the lists and to this day thousands of workers who could and should receive medical testing and care don’t have any idea it is available for them.

Sean Riordan, the attorney for the Fealgood Foundation declined to answer when asked if the first responders may have been misdiagnosed with Sarcoidosis noting he does not  have medical credentials.   He did say "I really want the bottom line truth and if Beryllium is the cause, then we should treat them for what it is. I want all the elements investigated and if it is Beryllium exposure then lets find out and not treat them for Sarcoidosis if that is not the cause."

If the World Trade Center first responders were exposed to Beryllium then shouldn't they be eligible under NIOSH for free screenings and medical treatment?  If the World Trade Center is considered a Department of Energy Facility or a subcontractor of a DOE Facility, then wouldn't any and all first responders fall under this federal financial umbrella?   This remains to be seen.