9/11 WTC health program adds 50 types of cancer
An American flag, erected by rescue workers, stands in the wreckage of the World Trade Center September 13, 2001 in New York City, two days after the twin towers were destroyed when two hit by two hijacked passenger jets.
Photographer: Chris Hondros
Posted: 09/10/2012
NEW YORK (AP) - The federal government will include about 50 types of cancer on the list of Sept. 11 World Trade Center-related illnesses covered by a program to pay for health coverage.
Democratic New York Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health announced the change Monday. The institute said last June it favored expanding the $4.3 billion health program to include cancer.
Scientists say there's little research to prove exposure to toxic dust from the destroyed twin towers caused even one kind of cancer. Questions about whether dust caused cancer were a reason Congress didn't include it in the initial list of covered illnesses.
But an advisory panel said it was plausible first responders and others who were exposed to the toxic dust might get cancer.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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