As the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 approaches, many first responders have taken this time to shine a light on thousands of their own who have come down with illnesses they say have been caused by the toxic dust at the site.

On Sept. 11, 2001, 660 million pounds of steel, concrete and glass were reduced to a smoking pile of rubble. The dust cloud was full of benzene, asbestos and other toxins.

A few years after the attacks, thousands of first responders throughout the Hudson Valley began talking about their illnesses that they believe are linked to the Ground Zero dust.

The workers eventually turned to White Plains lawyer David Worby for help. In 2004, he filed the largest class action lawsuit in New York City?s history on behalf of 10,000 sick 9/11 heroes who felt the city did little to protect them.

The case eventually settled for $1 billion in December 2010 -- a huge relief for so many who had become sick in the years following Sept. 11.

HV Remembering 9/11