final credits - james zadroga
James Zadroga was inside Building 7 at the World Trade Center when it collapsed on September 11th, 2001.
After narrowly escaping death, he spent nearly 500 hours over the next month and a half at the site, searching for victims amid tons of debris and dirt. Like many other detectives he stayed at the site beyond his daily tour of duty, working on his own time.
In late 2001 Zadroga became ill and was diagnosed with black lung disease and mercury on the brain.
Officials at the Detectives' Endowment Association maintain Zadroga was exposed to hazardous material and say there are many more who may die because of their work following the terror attacks. The New York Police Department said Zadroga began receiving disability payments in 2004 and also attribute his injuries to 9/11.
As Zadroga retired from the department in July, 2004 the department has refused to pay the $50,000 in medical bills he incurred since. His father, Joseph, a retired New Jersey police chief, says the NYPD turned its back on his son.
Zadroga's wife died in 2004, and James is survived by a 4-year-old daughter.
Zadroga's was the third high-profile death in connection with activities at the World Trade Center ruins.
Numerous people who either worked at or lived near the site have reported suffering from "trade center cough."
An emergency medical technician and officer in a union with two of the ground zero workers who died last year said "I think that there are several people who died that day and didn't realize that they died that day.
Doctors at New York health screening programs said it would take decades to get a clear picture of the long-term health effects of working at Ground Zero.
NYPD fireman Timothy Keller died June 23, 2005 of heart disease complicated by bronchitis and emphysema. Friends of Keller said he coughed up bits of gravel from his lungs after working at the Towers on September 11, 2001.
Felix Hernandez worked on rescue and recovery work at the site and died October 23, 2005 of respiratory ailments. Both Keller and Hernandez were nonsmokers and had no previous health problems.
An attorney representing more than 5,000 plaintiffs suing those who supervised the cleanup over their illnesses said 21 of his clients have died of 9/11-related diseases since mid-2004.
The clients in the suit worked at ground zero, at the Fresh Kills landfill in Staten Island where trade center debris was moved, and at the city morgue.
James Zadroga died January 5th, 2006 at the age of 34 from brain disease and respiratory complications.