Jacob Fortinsky and his twin sister, Sarah, were four years old when the 9/11 attacks occurred. Living one block from the World Trade Center in Gateway Plaza, the twins watched the towers collapse from their 21st-floor apartment. The collapse blew out their windows, filling their home with dust and debris. Their mother and nanny rushed them to a basement boiler room, providing wet fabric strips to breathe through. Emerging barefoot, they walked through deep powdery ash to safety.

Fortinsky, now 28, recalls a childhood shadowed by fear. He developed asthma and anxiety about tall buildings and fire, believing his conditions linked to the toxic dust. His mother was later diagnosed with breast cancer. He often wondered about the long-term health toll, comparing his exposure to smoking. While his asthma has subsided, he remains among the estimated 25,000 children exposed to the World Trade Center dust cloud.

Research into 9/11 health effects initially focused on first responders. However, children like Fortinsky have received less attention. The dust lingered in homes and schools, posing risks to those crawling or playing nearby. Twenty-five years later, the federally funded World Trade Center Health Program is working to track down exposed children for research. Congress mandated the project in 2022. Dr. Leonardo Trasande of NYU Langone Health notes the effort is overdue but welcome. The initiative aims to understand how early-life exposure affects long-term health.