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Environment
Andrew J. Whelton, Professor of Civil, Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University

Toxic chemicals from Ohio train derailment lingered in buildings for months – here’s what our investigation found in East Palestine

East Palestine Ohio Andrew Whelton Purdue University Norfolk Southern Pennsylvania the Appalachian Mountains
A black plume of smoke spreads out from burning railcars. AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

On Feb. 3, 2023, a train carrying chemicals jumped the tracks in East Palestine, Ohio, rupturing railcars filled with hazardous materials and fueling chemical fires at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

The disaster drew global attention as the governors of Ohio and Pennsylvania urged evacuations for a mile around the site. Flames and smoke billowed from burning chemicals, and an acrid odor radiated from the derailment area as chemicals entered the air and spilled into a nearby creek.

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