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The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund considers individuals to be victims of 9/11 dust exposure if between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002 they were present:
- At Ground Zero or “the Pile”
- In Lower Manhattan (usually south of Canal Street but potentially as far north as Houston Street)
- At the Staten Island Fresh Kills Landfill handling debris
- At any official debris removal locations including piers, barges, or transfer stations
- At areas (such as garages) where WTC-contaminated vehicles were retrieved, driven, cleaned, repaired, or maintained
- At the temporary morgues or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City (OCME)
Individuals who were at one of the above locations may be eligible for 9/11 compensation. Conditions eligible for 9/11 compensation include cancer, respiratory illnesses, sleep apnea, and GERD (persistent heartburn). Families of those who have passed away, and suffered from a 9/11-related condition during their lifetime, may also be eligible for compensation.
The federal government has provided $7 billion in funding for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. The fund is due to expire on December 18, 2020. So, far the Fund has paid over $2 billion in 9/11 compensation.
Irrespective of the attackers intent, the 9/11 attacks were acts of chemical warfare. Atmospheric scientist Thomas Cahill commented “The debris pile acted like a chemical factory. It cooked together the components of the buildings and their contents, including enormous numbers of computers, and gave off gases of toxic metals, acids, and organics.”
After 9/11, the federal government told us the air was safe to breathe. We have since learned that the air was full of 9/11 toxins. Here are just some of the 9/11 toxins and carcinogens that polluted the air between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002:
- Asbestos
- Lead
- Crystalline silica
- Polychlorinated bethenyls (“PCB”)
- Dioxin
- Gypsum
- Calcite
- Fiberglass
- Plastic
- Jet fuel
- Transformer oil
- Computers (personal and mainframe)
- Mercury
- Polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”)
- Copper
- Fluorescent light bulbs
- Electric cables
- Benzene
- Carbon monoxide
- Vermiculite
- Dolomite
- Chromium
- Cadmium
The attacks did not end on 9/11. The federal government estimates that 500,000 people were exposed to 9/11 toxins between September 11, 2001 and May 30, 2002.
To find out whether the federal government considers you a victim of 9/11 toxins exposure, contact Pitta & Baione LLP at 844-982-2667 or info@pittabaione.com for a free consultation.
