East Palestine, Ohio – 1 Year After Train Derailment
It’s been over a year since the February 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine, OH, that resulted in the spillage and release of the chemicals vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, isobutylene, and ethylhexyl acrylate into the nearby environment. At the time, a controlled burn was conducted on vinyl chloride, which can create dioxins and other dioxin-like compounds as byproducts.
Initial environmental and exposure testing in the area focused on analyzing for the presence of the spilled chemicals, but after many residents in the area began demanding testing for dioxins, the US EPA issued a statement on March 2, 2023, that required the train company, Norfolk Southern, to test for dioxins.1 Sampling was conducted at 146 locations in March and April 2023 to analyze for semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) as well as dioxins and furans. More details and results from that testing can be accessed on EPA’s website.1
The US EPA and Ohio EPA continue to work on cleanup efforts for the site, during which site-wide confirmation sampling and testing for soil and surface water is being conducted. As of April 19, 2024, confirmatory sampling work is 60% complete.2