Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer in Ground Zero Workers Now Covered Under 9/11 Health & Compensation Act

By Mike Holter

 

Good news for 9/11 workers who developed Mesothelioma, or may develop the lung disease in the future -- Mesothelioma has finally been added to the list of cancers covered under the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (HCA). The inclusion is a victory for Plaintiffs still seeking compensation in Mesothelioma lawsuits after being exposed to an estimated 2,000 tons of asbestos while working on Ground Zero.

 

Medical researchers are seeing unusually high incidences of respiratory illness and lung damage in Ground Zero workers, especially first-responders after the 2001 terrorist attack. An April 2010 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that exposure to Ground Zero dust led to large declines in lung capacity for rescue workers during the first year, and that these declines were persistent, without recovery over the next 6 years, leaving a substantial proportion of workers with abnormal lung function. Many experts worry that this reduced lung health and capacity will increase Ground Zero workers' risk of developing Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases in the future.

 

Mesothelioma treatment is an expensive and ongoing process, and many patients cannot afford the care they need. Many have filed Mesothelioma lawsuits to seek compensation for their medical bills. In January 2011, a new act called the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act was enacted to provide $4.3 billion in compensation and medical care to rescue workers harmed by the toxic dust at Ground Zero.

 It was an important first step in helping Ground Zero workers cover their medical bills, but it drew fire for not including certain cancers like Mesothelioma (also referred to as "asbestos cancer"). On June 9, 2012, however, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health announced that Mesothelioma asbestos cancer is now included in the 14 different types of cancer covered by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. With this new provision, 9/11 Mesothelioma victims can now apply for financial aid and medical assistant in treating their disease. However, not all workers may be covered by the legislation, or may not develop Mesothelioma symptoms for many years. In this case, some asbestos workers choose to file Mesothelioma lawsuits with the help of an asbestos lawyer.

Updated July 12th, 2012

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