Tests conducted by two universities of the air around East Palestine two weeks after the Norfolk Southern derailment basically mirror the results reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, the scientists emphasize that continued testing is needed.

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Texas A&M University found that air tested on February 20 and 21st found that all values of Benzene, Toluene, Xylenes, and Vinyl Chloride were below the minimal risk levels for Intermediate exposures as set by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

“There were no “hot spots” detected by mobile sampling,” according to a media release, which went on to state: “This analysis corroborates the data collected by the EPA between February 8th and February 22.”

Like the EPA, the university researchers found reason for concern about the levels of Acrolein, which according to the CDC is a colorless or yellow liquid with a disagreeable odor that burns easily and is used as a pesticide to control algae, weeds, bacteria, and mollusks.

Considered a hazardous material, Acrolein can affect cardiovascular and respiratory systems as well as eyes, and blood forming functions.  

Acrolein levels ranged from five times lower to three times higher in East Palestine on February 20, than those in downtown Pittsburgh, whose concentrations are typical of other cities across the country.

 The team used previously collected air quality concentrations in Pittsburgh as a standard sample for comparison.

During a one-on-one interview with 21 News, Albert Presto, Research Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, and member of the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies, explained that Carnegie Mellon's mobile lab detects volatile organic compounds, or VOCS, which, vinyl chloride is.

VOCs are hazardous air pollutants, or air toxin, is something the EPA monitors for to know the quality of the air in a region, and exposure long-term could cause "some pretty serious health effects," Presto said. 

So what is acrolein and where did it come from? Acrolein is a byproduct from a chemical burn, which was the compound listed in the report listed as having to the potential to have long-term health concerns.

The analysis confirms potential long-term health concerns previously noted by the EPA’s Acrolein air data, according to the university researchers. Several of the EPA samples were above the Intermediate levels.

 

The above map shows the strong geographic Acrolein variation within the East Palestine community.

Acrolein, a respiratory irritant, remains a chemical of potential concern,” said Presto.

High data resolution released by Carnegie Mellon showed the greatest levels for acrolein to be around the derailment site, to the south and to the east into Pennsylvania.

During the targeted analysis, the team looked for chemicals known to have been involved in the derailment. Presto states that they did find levels of acrolein above relative health limits, and Carnegie Mellon and Texas A&M  wanted to double-check the EPA testing over the concern over the method of testing the EPA was using was not sensitive enough, Presto said.

Presto stated that measuring for acrolein can be tricky, so they compared the results from East Palestine to recent testing done within Pittsburgh, which Presto said results was in typical of any large US city, and was able to state that levels in some areas were significantly higher in the village.

When asked about the concern level residents should have based on the findings, Presto said any (health) scales with exposure, so a double concentration would double ones risk.

Presto said that levels can vary from nearby sources for the compound, to changes in weather patterns. He added that the data released from only a one-day sampling of the air quality, and noted that it was a 'snapshot' of one moment. 

Presto said the concern was from long-term exposure - weeks, months to years - and not from being near acrolein for a few hours. Presto stated that continued sampling needs to take place until the compounds reach a baseline but isn't able to say how long this could take.

Presto said that individuals of East Palestine and the vicinity should understand what any testing done is capable of gathering before hiring independent testing.

People need to know the detection limit or how low contaminants are detected before hiring services that may not show information simply due to shortcomings of the testing equipment.

When asked about many varying smells being reported by people in the village, Presto said is it very tough to connect smells to a compound, stating his team has attempted multiple times to connect to a source. 

Presto said it is important for residents to continue pushing for additional information, especially when it comes to long-term health concerns.

 

 

During a media briefing with the researchers held Friday morning, Ivan Rusyn of Texas A&M said that more testing is needed and looking forward to more data expected from the mobile air quality lab being brought to east Palestine by the EPA.

Carnegie Mellon’s Albert Presto said that it’s important to continue analyzing air samples over different intervals until the air quality reaches levels comparable to other communities.

How long that monitoring is used to establish trends continues is a matter of available resources according to Rusyn, noting that its important to the community.

The researchers were pleased that the EPA is bringing in a mobile lab, noting they are better than stationary monitors at detecting spikes in air pollution.

The pollution was monitored by Carnegie Mellon’s Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies Mobile Air Quality Lab which has been used to measure air quality in cities across the country.

The instruments in the lab are sensitive at the parts per billion level. This enables them to identify very small pollutant concentrations that may otherwise be untraceable.

The lab houses several high-time-resolution and chemically specific pieces of equipment to identify air pollutants.

Responding to a reporter’s question about why community members should trust the researcher’s findings, Presto said, “We did this work independently. Producing reliable results reflects on our reputation.”

Citing the university lab’s experience and experience, Rusyn said that they have been involved in disaster response for seven years “We aren’t looking for attention,” said Rusyn.

“Whatever would have come out of our research, we would have reported,” said Texas A&M’s Weihsueh Chiu. “We don’t have a personal stake in the outcome, but a personal stake in accuracy.”