Breast cancer claims expanded for 9/11 survivors, first responders

As a result of the CDC study, survivors and first responders who develop breast cancer can claim exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl dust caused the disease, according to Dr. John Howard, the director of the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Breast cancer is already a covered condition under the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program, but only when symptoms included “nighttime sleep disruption related to response and cleanup activities.”

{mosads}The research findings from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) were published in Tuesday’s Federal Register. The changes to the WTC program are effective immediately.

The Environmental Protection Agency banned polychlorinated biphenyl — a man-made organic chemical — in 1979, but before that, it was widely used in commercial buildings because of its tolerance to heat.