Who is affected
To become eligible for compensation from the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund, you must have been injured or developed a disease between September 11, 2001, and May 30, 2002, as:
- a New York City Fire Department active or retired member
- a World Trade Center general responder
- a person in the course of ordinary employment, residence, education, or otherwise present
Eligible conditions & diseases
Cancers
- bladder cancer
- breast cancer
- kidney cancer
- liver cancer
- pancreatic cancer
- prostate cancer
- testicular cancer
- leukemia
- lymphoma
- myeloma
- uterine cancer
- ovarian cancer
- childhood cancer
- thyroid cancer
- bronchial cancer
- colorectal cancer
- eye and orbit cancer
- head and neck cancers
- lung cancer
- rare cancers
- gastric cancer
- esophageal cancer
- skin cancer
- soft & connective tissue cancer
- mesothelioma
Airway and digestive disorders
- asthma
- chronic cough syndrome
- chronic laryngitis
- chronic nasopharyngitis
- chronic respiratory disorder
- chronic rhinosinusitis
- gastroesophageal reflux disease
- interstitial lung disease
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- reactive airway dysfunction syndrome
- sleep apnea
- upper airways hyperreactivity
Mental health conditions
- acute stress disorder
- adjustment disorders
- anxiety disorders
- depression
- dysthymic disorder
- generalized anxiety disorder
- major depressive disorder
- panic disorder
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- substance use disorder
Musculoskeletal disorders (applies to WTC responders only)
Acute traumatic injuries
9/11 toxic exposure occupations
These are the 9/11 occupations implying a serious risk of developing cancer or another disease due to toxic exposure:
- firefighters
- police officers
- paramedics
- emergency medical personnel
- demolition workers
- debris removal workers
To date, 1,469 World Trade Center Health Program members have died from airway and digestive disorders, whereas 1,366 have passed away from cancer.
Toxic materials 9/11 victims might have been exposed to
9/11 victims might have been exposed to the following toxic or dangerous substances and materials during the aftermath of the attack:
- dioxins
- PAHs
- asbestos
- pulverized concrete
- microscopic glass shards
- silica
- heavy metals
- cement dust
- gypsum
- polychlorinated biphenyls
- calcite
- jet fuel
Over 70 known carcinogens and a myriad of toxic chemicals were released into the air across Lower Manhattan on the day of the 9/11 attack. More than 15,000 people in the 9/11 community have been diagnosed with cancer, and over 2,000 have died of those cancers.