Remember when Republican Rudy touted the party line and talking point that the air was safe in lower Manhattan and safe for forst responders?

CNN reports: A retired, 34-year-old New York City police detective who spent hundreds of hours searching for September 11 victims at ground zero has died of a respiratory disease related to the cleanup.

Union officials claim that James Zadroga is the first emergency responder to die as a result of exposure to World Trade Center dust and debris. He developed black lung disease and and collected mercury on the brain from working at the World Trade Center site.

Remember that when George Bush tells us tonight that we are safer because of his filthy wars.