A year has passed since Superstorm Sandy, one of deadliest and costliest storms on record, tore through the eastern seaboard, and many are still recovering from the damage inflicted on their communities, neighborhoods and homes. Even more, some of Superstorm Sandy's victims still feel her savage power daily as they struggle to cope with the lasting health problems stirred up in the storm's aftermath.
Dubbed 'Sandy Lung' or 'Sandy Cough,' terms linked to medical conditions – some quite severe – caused by repeated exposure to asbestos, mold, toxic dust, broken glass, insulation, rocks and other hazardous materials that were whipped into a frenzy by the staggering storm. Some survivors of Superstorm Sandy have been forced to live in substandard conditions as they rebuild their lives and homes. From these terrible conditions, a growing number of Superstorm Sandy survivors are being diagnosed with severe lung conditions, pneumonia and lingering coughs.
As it was the case with 9/11 first responders – many of whom where later diagnosed with and died from mesothelioma and other cancers related to their work at Ground Zero – the extent of the damage to potentially lethal materials in the storm's aftermath may not be known for years, maybe decades. Mesothelioma, for example, is linked to exposure to asbestos, a common yet highly toxic material typically found in older homes and buildings. If building materials containing asbestos are disturbed, such as homes being damaged during the storm, microscopic asbestos particles contaminate the air. Repeatedly breathing in air polluted with asbestos particles, mold spores, glass shards and toxic vapors can – and in many cases, will – lead to long-term health problems.
With how extensive and terrible Superstorm Sandy's wake was, it is especially difficult for homeowners and business owners to readily identify potentially dangerous materials in storm debris during the clean-up process. Further, prolonged exposure to air contaminated with asbestos and mold increases the likelihood of later development of more serious lung conditions, and could possibly worsen preexisting medical problems.
Currently, it is hard to estimate the number of Superstorm Sandy survivors who have been exposed to – regardless of duration – hazardous materials in the aftermath. Further, it is too early to know how many survivors have been diagnosed with lung conditions, and whether those conditions are linked to Superstorm Sandy.
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