Ron Berard is a photographer whose life has been shaped by his passion for photography and his ability to capture moments that tell a story. Originally from south Louisiana, Berard worked with Sports Illustrated and Time magazine during his career. Berard’s remarkable work was shaped by his experience during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

In 2001, Berard lived in Battery Park City, two blocks from the World Trade Center. As the events of Sept. 11 unfolded, he found himself at the epicenter of one of the most significant moments in American history. At the time, he worked for Time magazine and spent months photographing ground zero, the site of the former World Trade Center, following the attacks.  

Berard’s work came at a cost to his health. Like many first responders and other personnel, he was exposed to harmful substances like benzene and fiberglass from airborne debris. The exposure was dormant in his body for over 10 years.  

 “I photographed ground zero for a couple of months afterwards, and I got heavily exposed to benzene, [and] that’s what got me. I thought I had beaten it because they were telling us that they were putting a 10-year block on this disease,” Berard said. “But I said to myself, ‘I don’t know how I can be okay’ … They didn’t give us the right equipment, instead of giving us ventilators … they were giving us just typical N-90 masks.” 

An estimated 60,000 first responders were exposed to dust containing pollutants like aluminum, asbestos and small shards of glass. Health effects observed include cough, shortness of breath, asthma and laryngitis. The respirators used during the cleanup were not well distributed, and many responders did not wear them properly. Firefighters were the only personnel equipped with proper personal protective equipment. 

Berard was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable and life-threatening lung disease that causes progressive scarring of the lungs.  

Berard’s condition follows a pattern of post-9/11 health risks among responders and personnel. A 2019 study published in PubMed Central examined the link between World Trade Center debris and pulmonary fibrosis. The researchers conducted a longitudinal study of 19,300 responders who were exposed to the dust and debris following the collapse of the World Trade Center. Among the responders, pulmonary fibrosis occurred at an incidence rate of 36.7 per 100,000 people, compared to an incidence of 6.8–17.4 per 100,000 people in the United States. They concluded that there was an identifiable association between World Trade Center debris and increased risk of pulmonary fibrosis. 

However, Berard’s perspective remains one of acceptance and gratitude for his life experiences. 

“I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” Berard says. “But it is what it is. You either accept it or you don’t. Just let something of me survive. That’s a saying, let something of me survive. That’s what most photographers deep down inside, hope for.”