To Make a Lung Story Short

Clinton and Lieberman Push for Answers on Post-Sept. 11 Air Quality

Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) yesterday demanded answers from President Bush about why New Yorkers were not given full information on air-pollution risks near Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Clinton and Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) also called for a congressional inquiry into the matter. The brouhaha began last week when the U.S. EPA's inspector general released a report indicating that the White House told the EPA to reassure the public that New York City's air was safe in the days after the World Trade Center collapse, despite the presence of dangerous contaminants such as asbestos, cadmium, and lead. Clinton and Nadler demanded that the EPA undertake new testing and cleaning in the area. "There's still a great deal the EPA could do to limit the harm to residents and the emergency crews who worked so long down there, but they just don't seem to get it," said Nadler. "Unfortunately, many people are going to get lung diseases as a result."