World Trade Center Health Program; Certification of Breast Cancer in WTC Responders and Survivors Exposed to PCBs
other · US Department of Health and Human Services · Rule · Published 2013-04-17 · Effective 2013-04-17 · 78 FR 22794
Document
Document number
2013-09003
Federal Register citation
78 FR 22794
CFR reference
42 CFR 88
Type
Rule
Action
Change in certification requirements.
Category
other
Sub-agency
US Department of Health and Human Services
Publication date
2013-04-17
Effective date
2013-04-17
Abstract
On September 12, 2012, HHS published a final rule in the Federal Register adding certain types of cancer to the List of World Trade Center (WTC)-Related Health Conditions (List) established in the WTC Health Program regulation. Breast cancer was included on the List, although only individuals experiencing nighttime sleep disruption as a result of response and cleanup activities involving shiftwork are currently considered to have experienced exposure relevant for certification. A recent publication in The Lancet Oncology by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concludes that there is limited evidence that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) cause breast cancer in humans. As described below, the WTC Program Administrator (Administrator) has found that PCBs were present in WTC dust in the New York City disaster area and, accordingly, the Program will now certify breast cancer in eligible WTC responders and survivors who were exposed to either shiftwork/nighttime sleep disruption or PCBs as a result of the 9/11 attacks.