Federal officials are funding a University of Pittsburgh study on community health outcomes near the site of last year's Norfolk Southern train derailment. In the incident, a controlled fire sent towers of toxic smoke into the skies over Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Scientists will work with local residents to collect air and water samples from about 100 homes, as well as about 300 volunteers who live near the February 2023 crash site, according to a Pitt news release. The plan is to collect biological specimens and health data from people.
Pitt received a grant totaling about $1 million over two years from the National Institutes of Health to complete this research.
Researchers will collect health information within an eight-mile radius of the derailment, including residents across the state line in Ohio and Pennsylvania, a Pitt spokeswoman said.
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In particular, they will be looking for signs of liver dysfunction, one of the potential side effects of exposure to vinyl chloride, a chemical released during the accident.
“Given the volatility of these pollutants and the stress faced by communities, we are collecting and building on these data to protect the most vulnerable people affected by this disaster. It is vitally important that we act,” said Julian Baier, professor of medicine, environment and professions. He is in good health, the news release said.
In addition to analyzing the home, Pitt researchers will take soil, water and sediment samples to test for chemical contamination near the crash site.
“We work with residents and community partners in East Palestine, use scientifically rigorous and community-involved strategies to collect environmental samples, meet regularly with community leaders, and share our findings with others. We will discuss any concerns that may arise,” Peng Gao said. Pitt Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health.
A train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, involved several cars carrying vinyl chloride, flammable gas and other dangerous chemicals. Amid fears of a potential explosion, authorities opted to evacuate the area while the railroad released chemicals from the cars to burn them down.
Release of toxic substances:Toxic chemicals released to reduce explosion risk in Ohio train derailment
The controlled fire sent a plume of black smoke into the air around the crash site, and neighbors in Ohio and Pennsylvania complained of rashes, headaches and nausea from the burns.
Government officials assured residents it was safe to return within days of the crash and tested the soil, crops, air and water in the area. But so far, no studies have shown the long-term effects of exposure to chemicals in the vicinity of derailments.
