A study published Thursday found that firefighters who helped in the search for survivors at the 9/11 site in 2001 are more likely to have cancer than those who were not there.

The study published in the journal The Lancet, examined almost 10,000 New York City firefighters over seven years, differentiating between those who were at the World Trade Center site and those who were not.

Firefighters in the first group were 19 percent more likely to get cancer than the ones who were not at the 9/11 site, the study found.

The study may be to date, the strongest evidence of a possible link between ground zero rescue labors and cancer.

It could also open the door for firefighters to receive governmental financial support to treat the illness.

In late 2010, Congress passed the controversial “Zadroga” bill which compensates first responders of the 9/11 terrorist attacks for illnesses such as asthma or chronic respiratory problems. Cancer is excluded.