As the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaches, the FDNY held a press conference to address the increase in first responder deaths of those who were exposed to toxins from 9/11.

A total of 343 firefighters lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, and many more are still feeling the effects of 9/11 over 20 years later.  

Today, the Uniformed Firefighters Association and Uniformed Fire Officers Association recognized the 341 members of the FDNY who have passed from post-9/11-related illnesses.

For James Brosi, president of the UFOA, this hits home.

“My father is one of those people diagnosed with cancer over eight years ago,” said Brosi. “Despite having a very serious illness that attacked multiple parts of his body, the efforts of the World Trade Center monitoring program as well as the efforts of the medical treatment that was afforded to him made a dramatic impact on his quality of life.” 

Brosi says his father, Lt. Joseph Brosi, served Engine 88 in the Bronx and was the 330th member to be added to the World Trade Center’s memorial wall.  

FDNY members say despite the $600 million added to the Jamez Zadroga Health and Compensation Act, which helps affected individuals get the care they need, they still need more funding to get those people proper treatment without placing a financial burden on them.