The passage of the Zadroga 9/11 Act  left open a number of questions, including the critical question of what diseases or conditions are covered by the WTC Victim Fund.  While the Zadroga Act and the WTC Victims Fund does not list which diseases will be eligible for compensation and further clarification will need to come from the rules issued by the Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services (expected in the coming months), some guidance of conditions eligible for compensation under the WTC Victims Fund may be found in Part 1 of the Zadroga Act - which lists the illnesses and conditions eligible for medical care and monitoring. These conditions include:  

1. Interstitial lung diseases.

2. Chronic respiratory disorder--fumes/vapors.

3. Asthma.

4. Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS).

5. WTC-exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

6. Chronic cough syndrome.

7. Upper airway hyperreactivity.

8. Chronic rhinosinusitis.

9. Chronic nasopharyngitis.

10. Chronic laryngitis.

11. Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD). 

We believe that a strong argument can be made that the Zadroga Act and the WTC Victims Fund should cover the conditions listed as examples AND all other conditions that may be reasonably related to the toxic dust fallout in the months following the attacks, including various cancers.   Compensation, of course, will require the claimant to vigorously pursue the medical proof and present a compelling claim to the WTC Victim Fund Special Master.