Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/ground-zero-world-trade-center-63035/

When the World Trade Center towers fell in 2001, over 2,500 contaminants and toxins were released into the air.

The toxic dust cloud included fiberglass, asbestos, concrete, and many other chemicals.

First responders breathed in that harmful dust and air, and as the months went on, it became clear that many residents and workers in the area continued to breathe in the same toxins.

Sadly, that means thousands of people ended up developing a variety of cancers and other chronic long-term illnesses.

At least, thanks to the World Trade Center Health Program and the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, people who breathed in those toxins and developed health issues can be eligible to receive financial compensation.

The World Trade Center Health Program

The WTC Health Program provides assistance to eligible people who have been affected by the release of toxins after the fall of the twin towers. That includes health issues like cancers, respiratory diseases, and digestive disorders.

Compensation is also available to people who developed mental health disorders as a result of being exposed to the toxins.

People who have suffered from secondary conditions that are related to disease progression or who have experienced complications from treatment are eligible to receive compensation from the WTC Health Program as well.

Furthermore, specific musculoskeletal disorders are covered for members of the New York Fire Department and other first responders.

Some of the most common conditions that the WTC Health Program covers are:

• Chronic rhinosinusitis.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
• Sleep apnea.
• Cancer, of which prostate cancer and skin cancer are the most common.
• Chronic respiratory disease.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
• PTSD.
• Anxiety disorders.

You can find a full list of the physical and mental health conditions that the WTC Health Program covers on the program’s website.

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund

First responders, as well as workers and residents in the downtown area where the 9/11 attacks took place, can also receive compensation for injuries or harm suffered via the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

There are a wide number of cancers and illnesses that are covered by this fund, including but not limited to:

• Lung cancers.
• Prostate cancers.
• Colon cancers.
• Breast cancers.
• Leukemia.
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• Hodgkin’s disease lymphoma.

New Conditions Are Being Covered By the VCF, e.g. Uterine Cancer

New conditions have been added to both the WTC Health Program and the VCF over the years, and new conditions are still being added.

For example, uterine cancer is now being added to the list of conditions that are covered by the VCF and which people can gain compensation for, although it has been an uphill battle for members of Congress to get uterine cancer added to the list of covered conditions.

People who developed uterine cancer due to the toxins in the air after the 9/11 attacks can now be eligible for lifetime healthcare and financial compensation.

That brings uterine cancer linked to 9/11 in line with other reproductive cancers that are covered by the VCF and which people can gain compensation for, such as ovarian cancer, vulva cancer, vaginal cancer, cervical cancer, and penile cancer.

How Much Can Victims Claim?

Two types of compensation are available to victims: economic and non-economic compensation.

The precise amount you could receive in damages depends on your specific circumstances.

Economic damages are dependent on things like your age, your work history, your prior income, and whether you are currently receiving disability payments. Amounts are awarded on an individual basis.

Non-economic compensation covers things like the pain and suffering you have experienced as a result of health issues caused by the toxins in the air after the 9/11 attacks.

You could potentially receive as much as $340,000, depending on factors like how much your health condition has impacted your quality of life.