The people of Grenfell fear the time bomb due to health issues after the fire department diagnosed it with cancer.

The people of Grenfell, who were lucky enough to escape the deadly hell that claimed the lives of 72 people, are now tormented by fears about the long-term consequences for their health.

Residents of a 24-storey building in west London, when it caught fire in June 2017, said: I They feel they are not being taken seriously by the National Health Service and the government, despite repeated calls for better medical care.

Over the past month, 12 firefighters who rescued local residents and put out the fire were diagnosed with terminal cancer. These cases were thought to be related to hours of inhalation of toxic fumes and exposure to pollutants without respiratory protection.

Antonio Roncolato, 62, the penultimate man to escape the tower alive on the night of the fire, said: I The news was “concerned to all the people living around the tower, the community and people like me – I was stuck there until about 6am.”

An independent study published in 2019 by Lancashire University professor Anna Stack, which analyzed samples of soil, rubble and coal in the Grenfell Tower area, concluded that this was due to the presence of harmful levels of toxins.

To date, according to the Kensington and Chelsea Council, there is no evidence of an increase in the incidence of cancer.

During her studies, Ms. Stack, a renowned expert in the detection and quantification of toxic flammable substances, was a member of the Government’s Independent Scientific Advisory Group. Her work at Grenfell prompted the government to start their own trials at the site.

Commissioned by the government, analysis of dozens of soil samples near the tower showed that the effects of the fire posed a low risk to the health of residents.

Ms. Stack resigned from her position on the Government’s Scientific Advisory Panel following her review, explaining in her resignation letter that “nothing is in place” to assess “any adverse health effects from the fire.”

In the following years, fire survivors, residents, and activists continued to express concern about the risks and effectiveness of health screenings.

Mr. Roncolato spent more than five hours inhaling smoke in his 10th-floor apartment, and even more walking down the steps to the exit.

Shortly after the fire, he vomited and was taken to the hospital for further treatment.

“Blackness went out of my nose [mucus] for many days … I took out everything that I inhaled in the morning,” he said.

He added that other surviving residents had similar symptoms, which are not uncommon after significant smoke inhalation.

But the prospect of long-term consequences for his health worries Mr Roncolato, a non-smoker, who says he is trying to live as healthy a life as possible.

He, like other survivors, undergoes yearly breath tests to see if his lung function is deteriorating. The process involves inserting a tube into his mouth, attaching it to his nose, and telling him to inhale and exhale at different speeds and intensities.

To date, no abnormalities have been identified and Mr. Roncolato no longer has respiratory symptoms.

“Every year I take a breath test, so far I have touched wood, everything is fine,” he said. “But you know, when something is stuck in your lungs or in your body, sometimes it takes 10, 15, 20, 25 years for it to pop up.”

He added: “Time will tell what the real consequences of Grenfell will be. The tower lay uncovered for several months.

What was the conclusion of Professor Anna Stack’s research in 2019?

• The study analyzed soil, waste and coal samples and found carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at concentrations approximately 160 times higher than in reference soils in other urban areas.
• Levels of benzene, a known carcinogen, were also found 140 meters from the tower in amounts up to 40 times normal in urban soil.
• Dust and yellow oily residue collected 17 months after the blinds fire in an apartment 150 meters away also contained isocyanates, which can lead to asthma after a single exposure.
• Soil samples collected within 50 meters of the tower also contained phosphorus-based flame retardants, materials commonly used in insulating foam and furniture, potentially toxic to the nervous system.
• The investigation concluded that there was significant contamination in the Grenfell area and called for a detailed and long-term health survey to fully identify any potential health risks to people in the area.

How did the government react to Ms Stack’s findings?

• Environmental studies of the soil around Grenfell were carried out by an independent company, AECOM, on behalf of the government, on the recommendation of Ms. Stack.
• The second part of a two-stage report on soil tests conducted between May 2020 and April 2021 concluded that tests on soil, fruits and vegetables showed no signs of harmful contamination from the fire.
• Public Health England, in existence at the time the report was published, concurred with the results and assessed that for all but two sampling sites, Treadgold House and Avondale Park Gardens, where there was soil, the risk was minimal to negligible. Human health samples showed higher levels of lead, which are thought to precede a fire.
• The UK Health Safety Authority, formerly Public Health England, is assessing and monitoring air quality in the Grenfell Tower area following the fire. She supports current evidence that the public health risk of air pollution remains low.

Another resident, who lives in one of three nearby low-rise buildings collectively known as The Walks, recalled noticing yellow debris in her home and coughing up blood after the fire.

So said a resident who asked not to be named. I that concerned residents were being ignored and treated as conspiracy theorists for raising concerns that skin conditions, persistent coughs, and as yet unspecified health problems could be related to the fire.

experts told I A fire of the magnitude of the Grenfell Tower tragedy could lead to the discovery of chemicals identified in Ms. Stack’s research.

In her report, Ms. Stack wrote: “Synthetic glass fibers [which researchers identified matched those present in products used in the tower’s refurbishment] in air, soil, or sediment remain unchanged for long periods of time.”

Chris Collins, professor of environmental chemistry at the University of Reading, said: “Some [toxic chemicals] are destroyed by natural processes, but others are quite stable. Such chemicals can take decades to break down, he added.

Mr Collins, whose work includes evaluating soil contamination and its impact on humans, said: “Direct contact with soil is the most likely route these chemicals can cause potential problems for them.

“Usually when we do this type of risk assessment, we are most concerned about children because they are the most vulnerable group.

“They also tend to show behavior – they crawl, dig in the ground… and they also have a lot of hand-to-mouth contact, so we should be concerned about this group.”

Grenfell fire witness Joe Delaney, who lived near the tower at the time of the tragedy, said residents had no choice but to hang laundry outside while the charcoal that was “everywhere” continued to circulate through the air.

Mr. Delaney worries that the tests being offered to victims are not thorough enough. “We’re not far enough on the time scale yet, we need 15 years to find out [the long-term health impact of the blaze].”

A spokesman for Kensington and Chelsea Council said: “While the government’s environmental monitoring and air quality monitoring program has not identified any increased risks as a result of the Grenfell tragedy, we appreciate local residents’ concern for their health on the road. long term .

“It is important that people have access to proper screening through the NHS and can be sure that their health is being checked on a regular basis. There is an extensive community health surveillance program for survivors, bereaved families and North Kensington residents, and we and other partners are working with the National Health Service to continually evaluate support.

“To date, there is no evidence of an increase in the incidence of cancer, and this continues to be monitored.”

A spokesperson for NHS North West London, which provides support to those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, said: “ICB continues to meet with the community to allay fears, fears and fears caused by the fire. Daily Mirror An article on research involving firefighters and the long-term health effects of the Grenfell Tower fire.

“There are currently a range of health screenings available to all members of the community who are concerned about their health, and we have requested further advice and guidance from national experts to inform us of any changes that may be required now and in the future.

“We want to make sure that any additional testing is evidence-based, clinically useful and, most importantly, provides the reassurance this community deserves from the health services.

“All developments will be discussed directly with the communities as information becomes available.”

A government spokesman said: “We are aware of these ongoing concerns and continue to support the community affected by the Grenfell tragedy. We will continue to work closely with the people of North Kensington, including NHS England, to ensure that everyone with health concerns has access to the support they need.”