The term is a noun phrase. The head noun is "casualties," which refers to individuals killed or injured. "September 11th" is a proper noun functioning as an adjective (a noun adjunct) that modifies "casualties." This grammatical structure specifies that the subject is not casualties in a general sense, but exclusively those connected to the events of that specific date.
This phrase refers to the total number of individuals who died or were injured as a direct result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The count includes two primary groups. The first group consists of the 2,977 immediate victims killed on the day of the attacks: passengers and crew on the four hijacked planes, workers and visitors in the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon, and the first responders who died during rescue operations. The second, and continually growing, group includes those who have since died from certified 9/11-related illnesses, such as cancers and respiratory diseases, caused by exposure to toxic dust and debris at the attack sites.
The interpretation of this term has evolved significantly over time. Initially a fixed number representing those lost on the day, its definition expanded to acknowledge the long-term health crisis affecting survivors, recovery workers, and downtown residents. This broader understanding is critical for policy-making, underpinning legislation like the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which provides medical monitoring and financial aid. The term's application, therefore, is not merely historical but has ongoing legal, medical, and social implications for defining victimhood and state responsibility.
