# Health risks in aftermath of WTC?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risks-in-aftermath-of-wtc/81258>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 13, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risks-in-aftermath-of-wtc/81258 "2001-09-13T03:43:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risks-in-aftermath-of-wtc/81258/1 "2001-09-13T03:43:22Z")

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This is a gruesome thought; be warned.

It strikes me that there are thousands of corpses in midtown Manhattan. They may not be able to be completely removed for days, even weeks.

Is this a cause for concern? What are the health risks of casualties on this scale? How could disease spread from the disaster site?

How can we best prepare for any potential upcoming health risks?

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**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risks-in-aftermath-of-wtc/81258/2 "2001-09-13T04:09:14Z")

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I’m quite certain that this is near the top of FEMA’s list of concerns. IIRC from the coverage of Third World earthquakes and such the risk period begins at around day 7. Hopefully we’re capable enough to have cleaned up the bulk of it by then.

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**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/health-risks-in-aftermath-of-wtc/81258/3 "2001-09-13T04:13:00Z")

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The Oklahoma City Federal Building took two weeks to ‘clean up’, and was nowhere near the size of the 110 story WTC. I’m no expert of course, but it would seem logical that even with tremendous, unprecedented effort it will take at least that long to clear this. They also have to weigh safety considerations with nearby buildings in danger of collapse, and natural gas leaks, things of that nature.