by SUSAN EDELMAN
The city Health Department has launched a sweeping study - the first of its kind - of cancers among 9/11 responders and thousands of others who lived or worked near the World Trade Center.
"We're starting to look at all cancers now. It's a high priority," said Lorna Thorpe, the department's deputy commissioner for epidemiology.
"There's reason for concern," Thorpe said, because of known carcinogens in Ground Zero dust and smoke such as benzene, asbestos, silica, and chemicals emitted in fires.
The study aims to identify all cancers among 71,000 people in the city's WTC Health Registry, including Twin Towers survivors and nearby office workers, lower Manhattan residents, kids, school staff, and 31,000 rescue, recovery and cleanup workers.
The study is already zeroing in on blood cancers - leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma - which can develop in two to 10 years, sooner than most tumor cancers.
Blood cancers recently killed two 9/11 heroes. A funeral was held in Staten Island yesterday for FDNY emergency medical service Lt. Brian Ellicott, 45, a father of two who died Tuesday of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
NYPD Sgt. Michael Ryan, 41, a father of four, died of the same disease Nov. 19.
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