World Trade Center Health Program

Manhattan smoke plume on September 11, 2001 from International Space Station (Expedition 3 crew)

The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) is a federal benefit program in the United States that provides medical monitoring and treatment for responders and survivors of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City. The program was established by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, named after James Zadroga, a New York City police officer whose death was attributed to exposure to toxic dust at Ground Zero.

History

The WTCHP was created to address the long-term health effects experienced by individuals who were exposed to hazardous conditions following the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. The program officially began on July 1, 2011, and is administered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Eligibility

The program covers two main groups:

• Responders: This includes firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, and other workers and volunteers who participated in the rescue, recovery, and cleanup operations at the WTC site.
• Survivors: This includes individuals who lived, worked, or attended school in the area surrounding the WTC during and after the attacks.

Services Provided

The WTCHP offers a range of services, including:

• Medical monitoring and screening for physical and mental health conditions related to 9/11 exposure.
• Treatment for certified WTC-related health conditions, such as respiratory diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), cancers, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Pharmacy benefits for medications related to certified conditions.

Certified Health Conditions

The program recognizes a variety of health conditions as being related to 9/11 exposure. These include, but are not limited to:

• Chronic respiratory disorders
• Interstitial lung disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Asthma
• Chronic rhinosinusitis
• Sleep apnea
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Cancers (including lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and leukemia)
• Mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety disorders.

Administration and Funding

The WTCHP is funded through federal appropriations and is overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The program is designed to provide lifetime benefits to eligible individuals, ensuring ongoing care and support for those affected by the 9/11 attacks.

Related Pages

• September 11 attacks
• World Trade Center
• James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Respiratory disease
• Cancer