Air Pollutant Patterns and Human Health Risk following the East Palestine, Ohio, Train Derailment

On February 3, 2023, a train carrying numerous hazardouschemicalsderailed in East Palestine, OH, spurring temporary evacuation of residentsand a controlled burn of some of the hazardous cargo. Residents reportedhealth symptoms, including headaches and respiratory, skin, and eyeirritation. Initial data from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) stationary air monitors indicated levels of potential concernfor air toxics based on hazard quotient calculations. To provide complementarydata, we conducted mobile air quality sampling on February 20 and21 using proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry. Measurementswere taken at 1 s intervals along routes designed to sample both closeto and farther from the derailment. Mobile air monitoring indicatedthat average concentrations of benzene, toluene, xylenes, and vinylchloride were below minimal risk levels for intermediate and chronicexposures, similar to EPA stationary monitoring data. Levels of acroleinwere high relative to those of other volatile organic compounds, withspatial analyses showing levels in East Palestine up to 6 times higherthan the local rural background. Nontargeted analyses identified levelsof additional unique compounds above background levels, some displayingspatiotemporal patterns similar to that of acrolein and others exhibitingdistinct hot spots. These initial findings warrant follow-up mobileair quality monitoring to characterize longitudinal exposure and risklevels.

Automated summary

On February 3, 2023, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, OH, leading to temporary evacuation and controlled burn of some of the hazardous cargo. Residents reported health symptoms, and initial data from air monitoring indicated potential concern for air toxics. Mobile air monitoring conducted later showed that the levels of some chemicals were below risk levels, but acrolein levels were high and additional unique compounds were found, suggesting the need for further monitoring to characterize long-term exposure and risk levels.