Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, many  have died from 9/11 related illnesses because they were exposed to toxins in the vicinity of Ground Zero.

Almost 20 years later, first responders and Manhattan residents continue to be diagnosed with 9/11 related illness conditions and the number is likely to keep increasing.

One of these victims is retired New York Police Department Detective Heidi Higgins, who was recently diagnosed with a 9/11 related illness. Higgins reportedly responded to Ground Zero on Sept. 11, 2001, and helped with the aftermath of the attacks for three months.

Higgins stated that her assignment began with a rescue mission, but evolved into weeks of search and recovery efforts.

“Fire, inferno, chaos … all hell was breaking loose … Radios were going crazy. All you could hear were the poor cops that were trying to evacuate, trying to rescue, and it was just chaos,” Higgins told 14 News.

During this time, Higgins and other first responders were allegedly not provided with protective equipment that would have prevented exposure to dangerous substances like jet fuel, asbestos, glass and aluminum.

“In terms of protection, the first couple of weeks, I didn’t have anything. [I] had nothing. Eventually, they handed out these little masks, like if you were going to paint your house. They’d give them to you and you’d put them on, but that didn’t work,” Higgins told 14 News.

Higgins was recently diagnosed with a 9/11 related illness after she began experiencing persistent coughing and more serious breathing problems. Higgins is now contending with a variety of health problems including COPD, gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD), which were allegedly caused by the toxic substances Higgins breathed in at Ground Zero.

Higgins is taking a number of medications to contend with her 9/11 related illness, but is aware that her life has been drastically shortened.

Overview of 9/11 Related Illness Dangers

There have been over 70 different cancers linked with the toxic substances produced at Ground Zero that have been affecting a number of people in the aftermath of 9/11. People who are likely to be diagnosed with a 9/11 related illness include:

• First responders
• Firefighters, police officers, and EMTs
• Sanitation employees
• Construction employees
• City employees
• Utility employees
• Cleaners
• 9/11 volunteers
• Employees who worked below Canal Street
• Residents living below Canal Street
• Students going to school below Canal Street

Residents and first responders were previously told by the Environmental Protection Agency that it was safe to breathe the air at Ground Zero but this has turned out not to be the case. Former EPA chief Christine Whitman has since apologized for this misstatement in 2016, but this does not reverse the damage done by 9/11 related illness.

Numerous victims like Higgins have incurred massive medical bills for their 9/11 related illness, making victim compensation programs vital for financial assistance.

The $7.3 billion dollar September 11th Victims Compensation Fund was established to help victims who suffered health complications linked to Ground Zero toxic substances. Claimants may benefit from a consultation with an attorney familiar with the claims process.