Health Effects From Exposure To 9/11 Dust

Nearly 3,000 people died in the terrorist attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, PA, on September 11, 2001. Unfortunately, many more survivors and first responders died in the two decades since 9/11, and others are just now contracting serious, life-altering medical conditions from the toxic exposure. Below learn about the Health Effects From Exposure To 9/11 Dust.

Listed below are some health effects that exposure to 9/11 toxins can cause. If you were a responder or survivor at any of the attack sites on 9/11 and now suffer from any of these medical conditions, an experienced 9/11 benefits attorney can help you apply for healthcare treatment and monitoring from the federally funded WTC Health Program, and compensation through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).

9/11-Related Medical Conditions

The WTC Health Program administrators and others involved in policy-making for the 9/11 benefits programs have identified more than 60 types of cancers and more than two dozen other serious medical conditions related to exposure to the toxins found at the terrorist attack sites.

#1. More Than 60 Types of Cancer

Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that often begins in one area of the body before spreading to close—and later, distant—organs.

Some types of cancer associated with 9/11 toxic exposure include:

• Blood and lymphoid tissue cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma
• Breast cancer in both women and men
• Childhood cancers
• Digestive system cancers, such as cancer of the colon or rectum
• Eye and orbit
• Ovarian cancer
• Prostate
• Mesothelioma
• Rare cancers such as those impacting the adrenal gland, anus or anal canal, bone or cartilage, gallbladder, meninges, brain, spinal cord, pancreas, penis or testis, placenta, small intestine, or thymus
• Respiratory system cancers, such as those involving the lung and bronchus
• Invasive cancers of the vulva, vagina, or cervix

#2. Acute and Traumatic Injuries

Acute traumatic injuries refer to injuries incurred by a survivor or responder at the attack site, such as:

• Burns
• Complex strains
• Bone fractures
• Eye injuries
• Tendon tears
• Head trauma

#3. Musculoskeletal Disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders refer to a group of chronic or recurring disorders that 9/11 exposure caused, including:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Low back pain
• Tendonitis, degenerative disc disease, and other disorders impacting the body’s musculoskeletal system

#4. Airway and Digestive Disorders

Also known as aerodigestive disorders, this group of illnesses includes conditions including:

• Asthma
• Chronic cough syndrome
• Chronic laryngitis
• Chronic nasopharyngitis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
• Interstitial lung disease
• New-onset or 9/11-exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Reactive airway dysfunction syndrome (RADS)
• Sleep apnea that is medically associated with another airway or digestive disorder
• Upper airways hyperreactivity

#5. Mental Health Conditions

Many individuals do not realize that the WTC Health Program also provides services for the treatment of 9/11-related mental health disorders such as:

• Acute stress disorder
• Adjustment disorder
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Dysthymic disorder, a low mood lasting more than two years
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Major depressive disorder, which is a persistently depressed mood that can result in changes to appetite, sleep, energy level, or concentration
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Substance use disorder

What 9/11-Related Conditions Are Most Common?

According to a recent report from Scientific American, the most common conditions related to 9/11 toxic exposure that responders and survivors have experienced include:

• Chronic rhinosinusitis, which is a condition involving at least two of these four symptoms for at least 12 consecutive weeks: facial pain and pressure, loss or impairment of the sense of smell, nasal drainage, and nasal obstruction.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is a digestive disorder that affects the ring of muscles between your esophagus and stomach.
• Cancer.
• Asthma.
• Sleep apnea, a breathing-related sleep disorder where the sufferer temporarily stops breathing multiple times during sleep.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Chronic respiratory disorder.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a group of disorders that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems.
• Anxiety disorder.
• Major depressive disorder.

Seeking Benefits For Your 9/11-Related Condition