Victim Compensation Fund

On April 19, a federal judge sentenced Gustavo L. Vila to 51 months in prison for stealing a nearly $1 million 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) award from NYPD veteran John Ferreyra, who has battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma resulting from his exposure to Ground Zero toxins. Vila was also ordered to pay $867,870.76 in restitution. After […]

The 9/11 community has an elevated risk of developing many respiratory diseases and 68 different types of cancer — including esophageal cancer, as well as Barrett’s esophagus which could precede esophageal cancer. Barrett’s esophagus occurs when the esophagus becomes damaged by acid reflux, causing the lining to thicken and become red. The condition results from […]

A study recently published by researchers at the University of Michigan and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found a wide variety of mental health impacts among 9/11 first responders and survivors.  Published in the journal Psychological Medicine, the study focused on trauma among responders, students and teachers, office workers, and […]

Anyone who was in Lower Manhattan on 9/11 or in the months that followed has a higher risk of 68 different types of cancer and many forms of respiratory disease, including sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a disease characterized by the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells (known as “granulomas”) in any part of your body […]

Thousands of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) workers were deployed to Lower Manhattan in the months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, working tirelessly in search-and-rescue, cleanup, and recovery efforts. As a result of their exposure to Ground Zero toxins, many of these MTA workers have since been diagnosed with cancer or respiratory disease. Thankfully, the MTA […]

Nearly 500,000 people, including first responders, downtown office workers, residents, and students and teachers, were exposed to Ground Zero toxins after 9/11 and have a higher risk of developing respiratory disease and 68 different types of cancer, including esophageal cancer. Though relatively uncommon in the general population, the 9/11 community has been disproportionately impacted by […]