East Palestine Sample Data (So Far)

Some of the current results available from water tests, with soil and air test results still unavailable.

Edit 2/22/2023: Block quote did not include the entirety of DeWine’s statement in the Toxicology section. The block quote has been modified.

Following the previous posts on the East Palestine debacle (With unlabeled Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 found here) this post will just provide some of the information that I’ve found on sample testing, with mostly water test results being available so far. However, if anyone were to find additional information please feel free to provide it in the comments below.

Water Test Results

A map from USA Today outlines the site of the February 3rd train derailment, with some of the water local streams and rivers affected before possibly reaching the Ohio River.

A map from USA Today outlining the possible direction of runoff that may approach the Ohio River.

This is important since The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) took various water samples from different downstream regions.

ORSANCO Results

The EPA’s website provides a map of the location of samples shown below. Use the above image from USA Today as a frame of reference, although labeling differences may make it a bit hard to visualize.

Image 1 of ORSANCO noting where water samples were taken.

Image 2

Samples were taken at various time points, with the initial samples starting around February 8th. The results provided by ORSANCO outline measures only for butyl acrylate, vinyl chloride, and other VOCs. In the early testing phase noticeable levels of butyl acrylate were found in the upstream waterways. However, vinyl chloride and VOC levels were considered relatively low (<.50 ppb). Butyl acrylate levels at the time of the latest sampling around February 17 noted a lower than 1 ppb level of butyl acrylate as well.

Only the top portion of the results will be provided below, noting the higher levels of butyl acrylate in yellow:

From ORSANCO. Yellow notes elevated levels of the designated compound. Of note, butyl acrylate levels were elevated in certain water samples days after the leak and controlled fire.

As noted by Pete Lincoln it appears that the main tank that leaked contained butyl acrylate, with the vinyl chloride tanks not appearing to have sustained damage. This corroborates with the above testing measures and explains the high levels of butyl acrylate especially at site 2 and 4 of testing, although the high levels at site 7 which is downstream of the leak.

Norfolk Southern Results

Two groups of samples were taken; one group which took 39 different surface water samples form the local environment, and one which tested drinking water with 3 samples collected (no indication as to where the samples were procured).

The results of both are rather extensive and highly technical, so I haven’t looked deeper into each one in particular, so others who wish to do so can, which all can be found on the EPA’s website although links will be provided below for convenience.

• Surface Water Testing:

  • Surface Water Sampling Locations

  • Sampling Data - February 7

  • Sampling Data - February 10

  • Sampling Data - February 12

• Drinking Water Testing:

  • Preliminary Results, February 15 (Samples from February 10)

  • Preliminary Results, February 14 (Samples from February 12)

  • Final Results, February 17 (Samples from February 10)

  • Final Results, February 17 (Sample from February 12)

  • Note that although 3 samples were taken one sample appeared to have an air bubble in it which compromises the GC/MS analysis to some degree for that sample. Be aware of this remark when reviewing the samples.

Given that these tests appear to have been conducted by Norfolk Southern Railway, the railroad company, some skepticism may be warranted when reviewing the information. There’s also been some concern that the company hired by Norfolk Southern, The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health, may be more invested in serving corporate interest rather than providing transparency.

The extent of the results, as well as my lack of knowledge on interpreting the results, means that I only gave these results a cursory glance.

Of note, one compound of interest (dioxin) doesn’t appear in the sampling data. This could be due to a multitude of reasons:

• Levels of dioxin were under the limit of detection— serum measures for dioxin required a special, high definition assay that detected in the parts per trillion (ppt) while the water tests appeared to have a sensitivity down to parts per billion (ppb). It’s possible that the analysis was not sensitive enough to detect dioxin, although to corroborate that information the instrument used would need to be known.

• A reference may have been needed— detection of dioxin may rely on a control test with spiked dioxin in order to have a frame of reference. If a reference was not used that could make it more difficult to determine dioxin. However, this assumption is entirely a speculation.

This is the water information I’ve obtained so far, but again if anyone has additional information please feel free to provide it below.

Soil/Air Tests

So far I haven’t been able to find conclusive tests for soil and air tests. Several news outlets have reported that testing has been conducted, with air monitors being placed nearby the railroad as well as tests for vinyl chloride and hydrogen chloride being done across several hundred homes. The EPA website has provided updates on air monitoring and soil tests, yet no results have been provided.

The lack of information makes it difficult to assess the specificity of such tests, including what other organic compounds may have been looked for aside from vinyl chloride or butyl acrylate (again, remember that hydrogen chloride isn’t an organic compound so this raises questions as to whether a separate test for hydrogen chloride was conducted or if the home tests are able to detect hydrogen chloride along with VOCs).

Local news station WKBN provides some notes on the air monitoring and home tests, which still remains a bit ambiguous until the results are provided.

Of note, several thousand cubic yards of contaminated soil has been removed from the site and replaced with mulch to absorb the remaining contaminants:

Contaminated soil: To date, 3,150 cubic yards of contaminated soil have been removed from the area of the derailment. This soil has been moved into containers and stockpiled for proper disposal, according to the EPA.
Once the impacted soil is removed, the remaining soil is covered with mulch to absorb any additional seepage and to absorb the chemicals. The mulch is regularly replaced to ensure continued absorption. The chemical-laden mulch is then stockpiled for proper disposal.
The process to remove contaminated soil and control seepage will continue.

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency notes that over 8,350 cubic yards of contaminated soil has been removed as of the time of the update (last updated February 17).

As of now, authorities have suggested that water and soil levels are safe, although locals continue to search for independent testing due to the lack of transparency.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan has remarked on the supposed safety, even suggesting that he’d let his children drink and play in East Palestine water if tested since he “trusts the science”.

The full speech can be seen below:

Toxicology Tests

Over the weekend and into today The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as well as The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are expected to deploy toxicologists to East Palestine in order to establish a medical clinic.

In a Friday press release Ohio Governor DeWine made the following remarks about this clinic:

East Palestine Health Clinic

Ohio will set up a medical clinic in East Palestine next week to engage with residents, answer questions, evaluate any symptoms, and provide medical expertise.

In response to a request from Governor DeWine, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will send federal officials to East Palestine to support the clinic.

“We know that the science says that East Palestine is safe, but we also know that residents are very worried,” said Governor DeWine. “They are asking themselves 'Is my headache just a headache? Or is it a result of the chemical spill? Are other medical symptoms caused by the spill?' Those are very legitimate questions and residents deserve answers.”

Working with the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio EPA, and U.S. EPA, HHS teams will begin seeing patients early next week. Teams will include national experts on the impacts of chemical exposure.  

The location of the clinic and hours are will be announced on ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine when this information is available.

An update from February 19 makes note that the clinic will be opened February 21 around noon:

COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Department of Health (ODH), in partnership with the Columbiana County Health Department and with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will open a Health Assessment Clinic at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 21, for any East Palestine area residents who have medical questions or concerns related to the recent train derailment.

Community members can begin scheduling appointments on Monday at 8 a.m. by calling 234-564-7755 or 234-564-7888.

The clinic will be held at the First Church of Christ, 20 W. Martin St., in East Palestine. In addition to two assessment rooms inside, a mobile unit operated by the Community Action Agency of Columbiana County, will be parked outside the church in order to accommodate more appointments.

Registered nurses and mental health specialists will be on hand. A toxicologist will either be on site or available by phone.

This is the latest move in an extensive effort that Governor Mike DeWine and a number of state agencies have undertaken to help East Palestine recover from this incident.

“Last week, I was in East Palestine and listened as many area residents expressed their concerns and fears,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA. “I heard you, the state heard you, and now the Ohio Department of Health and many of our partner agencies are providing this clinic, where people can come and discuss these vital issues with medical providers.

“We encourage anyone who has medical concerns or questions to take advantage of this resource.”

The clinic is a chance for area residents to discuss concerns and receive a health assessment.  Referrals will be made if needed.

Although toxicologists appear to be deployed, the extent of actual toxicological tests are yet to be seen. That is, to what extent are locals going to be assessed for possible acute/long-term toxicity?

I suppose the next week will provide more media coverage and answers as to what will be going down in regards to these medical clinics.

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Again, this is just a snippet of some of the information I have been able to find. The following week will cover typical articles unless serious updates are provided with respect to East Palestine.

Anyone who has additional information or links to other Substacks/news articles please provide them below.

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