IMPACT OF THE EAST PALESTINE TRAIN DERAILMENT
On November 6–7, 2023, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a 2-day virtual public workshop1 on health research and surveillance priorities related to the East Palestine,
Ohio, train derailment and hazardous material release
that occurred on February 3, 2023.2 The workshop was intended to explore potential human health impacts and lessons learned from the incident, focusing on research questions specific to affected communities in East Palestine and surrounding areas of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Kristen Malecki, a professor and the division director
of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Chicago, opened the workshop emphasizing the development of a research agenda responsive to community questions and concerns across hazards, exposures, risks, and health impacts to inform strategies for protecting residents now and in the future.
This section covers the physical, emotional, and social impacts described by community members and local responders and providers after the derailment.
It highlights the acute health symptoms, mental trauma, loss of trust, financial hardships, gaps in disaster preparedness, mental health care access, and uncertainties concerning long-term health risks reported in the community.
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