NIH launches $10M study investigating health effects of toxins released from East Palestine train wreck
By ljdevon // 2025-06-21
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The people of East Palestine, Ohio, have been living in a nightmare since February 2023, when a Norfolk Southern train derailment unleashed a toxic cocktail of chemicals into their community — only for the federal government to compound the disaster by deliberately setting those chemicals ablaze. Now, after more than a year of suffering, unanswered questions, and mounting health complaints, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is finally launching a $10 million, five-year study to assess the long-term damage. But for many residents, the announcement raises a haunting question: Why did it take this long? Vice President JD Vance and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled the initiative Thursday, framing it as a victory for transparency — but critics argue it’s a damning indictment of the Biden administration’s failure to act while toxic smoke choked the air and seeped into the soil. The study will track respiratory illnesses, neurological disorders, cancer risks, and autoimmune conditions linked to exposure to vinyl chloride, benzene, and other carcinogens released during the derailment and subsequent controlled burns. Key points:
  • The NIH study follows widespread reports of headaches, rashes, respiratory distress, and chronic fatigue among East Palestine residents — symptoms consistent with chemical poisoning.
  • The Biden administration refused to conduct long-term health monitoring, leaving victims without answers until the Trump-Vance administration intervened.
  • Norfolk Southern’s derailment spilled hazardous materials from 38 rail cars, but the decision to burn them — rather than contain the toxins — may have worsened public health risks.
  • Independent researchers and activists have long warned that corporate and government narratives downplay environmental disasters, leaving communities vulnerable to long-term harm.

A disaster compounded by negligence

On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate and benzene careened off the tracks in East Palestine, igniting a chemical inferno that would burn for days. Fearing an uncontrolled explosion, officials made a fateful decision: they set the remaining chemicals on fire, sending plumes of hydrogen chloride and phosgene — a chemical weapon used in World War I — into the air. Residents were assured the burn was "safe," but within weeks, reports of mysterious illnesses surged. “The Biden administration refused to do anything to study the effects of these long-term exposures,” Vice President Vance declared, condemning the previous White House for abandoning East Palestine. Secretary Kennedy echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the community deserves “science-backed answers” about the fallout from the disaster. Yet for many, the NIH study is a belated acknowledgment of what grassroots investigators have said all along: the official narrative was a lie.

Corporate cover-ups and the fight for truth

The East Palestine catastrophe is a stark reminder of how often corporate and government interests align to suppress inconvenient truths. Norfolk Southern, a rail giant with deep political ties, initially downplayed the risks, while federal agencies echoed assurances that the air and water were safe — despite residents coughing up blood and pets collapsing. Independent researchers, including environmental scientists and alternative media outlets, have long challenged these claims, pointing to historical precedents like the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear disaster, where authorities similarly dismissed health concerns until cancer clusters emerged years later. “The people of East Palestine have been gaslit by those in power,” said one local activist, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation. “They told us it was safe, but we knew better. Now, this study is proof that we were right to distrust them.” The NIH initiative marks one of the first major actions under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership at HHS — a move that could set the tone for his tenure. Known for his skepticism of pharmaceutical influence and corporate-driven science, Kennedy has vowed to prioritize independent research over industry-backed narratives. But the study also raises broader questions: How many other communities suffer in silence after being told their water, air, and soil are “safe” following industrial disasters? From Flint, Michigan, to Love Canal, history shows that the true cost of environmental negligence often emerges years — or decades — later. For the latest on these studies, check Environ.News. Sources include: Yournews.com X.com HHS.gov NIH.gov
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