Are Any Autoimmune Disorders Covered by the WTC Health Program or VCF?
The short answer is no, but we are optimistic that several will be added to the list of covered conditions in the future. Several studies showing that people exposed to the toxic brew at Ground Zero may face an elevated risk of developing certain autoimmune conditions. Some of the specific components of the WTC dust are even linked to systemic autoimmune diseases, also known as SAIDs. The Science and Technical Advisory Committee, which advises the director of WTC Health Program on areas of potential research, has raised the topic repeatedly and we expect to see more discussion of it in the future as new research comes in.
A petition to add autoimmune diseases to the WTC Health Program’s list of covered conditions was considered as recently as 2016, but the program administrator declared there was insufficient evidence to add them. That doesn’t mean the petition’s been rejected, however, so the door is still open should new research establish a clearer link. Initial studies do demonstrate at least some relationship between WTC exposures and SAIDs. A 2015 study found an association between the number of months a person worked at the WTC site and their odds of developing an autoimmune diagnosis, with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, inflammatory myositis, and systemic lupus erythematosus the most commonly diagnosed in the population. A more recent 2019 study based on data from the WTC Health Registry found that people who spent time near the WTC clean-up had an elevated risk of developing SAIDs. Those who had symptoms of PTSD were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with a SAID than those without, and women in both responder and survivor populations were diagnosed in significantly higher numbers as well.
There is also one exception to the no-autoimmune rule - a conditions that is covered by the programs. Sarcoidosis is a debilitating autoimmune disease generally focused in the lungs and lymph nodes in which abnormal masses or nodules consisting of inflamed tissues form in certain organs of the body. This condition meets the program’s criteria as an upper respiratory issue, so care and compensation are available for it.
If you have questions about when you can expect these conditions to come under review, or aren’t sure if you qualify, we’re here to help.