WASHINGTON — The National Institutes of Health has launched a five-year, $10 million program to study and address long-term health impacts of the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment in 2023.
The NIH said the study was being undertaken at the urging of Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio senator at the time of the incident.
“This historic research initiative will finally result in answers that this community deserves,” Vance said in a press release, “and I’m grateful for the work of Secretary Kennedy and Director Bhattacharya on these efforts.”
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said the “multi-disciplinary research program will focus on public health tracking and surveillance of the community’s health conditions to support health care decisions and preventive measures,” while Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, “The people of East Palestine have a right to clear, science-backed answers about the impact on their health.”
The Feb. 3, 2023, derailment of a Norfolk Southern train led to controlled burns of toxic chemicals as well as spills into local waterways; the National Transportation Safety Board later said the vent-and-burn procedure to deal with tank cars of vinyl chloride was unnecessary [see “NTSB issues 31 new recommendations …,” Trains News Wire, June 25, 2024].
The NIH said the program will focus on:
— “Longitutinal epidemiological research” to understand short- and-long term health impacts of exposure;
— Tracking and surveillance of community health conditions to support health care decision and preventative measures.
— Coordinated communication among researchers, study participants, health care providers, government officials, and other to establish a coordinated approach to addressing health concerns.
Proposals for research are being accepted through July 21, with grants expected to be available to analyze studies and community activities. More information is available here.
