The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says people living and working around the East Palestine train derailment site can continue normal use of properties, including for recreation and gardening.

That assessment is based on an analysis of soil samples gathered earlier this year and outlined in the final EPA technical memorandum of the Phase 1 Residential, Commercial, Agricultural Soil Sampling Plan.

The EPA says sampling was conducted at 146 locations in March and April 2023 to determine if there were measurable amounts of chemical compounds deposited in soot and ash from the “vent and burn” operation on February 6. Each location had two samples collected – the first in the top inch of soil and the other from 1 to 6 inches below the surface. The assessment area included the 1-by-2-mile evacuation zone, an extended 1-mile area to the southeast in Pennsylvania, and 25 additional sites considered background.

According to the EPA the “vast majority of results” fell within typical background ranges for rural, urban, and suburban soil.

Noting what the EPA describes as “a few outlier data points associated with commercial/industrial properties or located next to a road/highway” the EPA says there was no noticeable difference between surface and at-depth concentrations, indicating that the compounds were likely present before the train derailment.

Dr. Natalive Kruse of Ohio University said she believes more investigating by the EPA should be done given the continued concerns voiced by East Palestine residents regarding adverse health effects. 

"With that lens on, I would want to do some additional work to look at the areas where the dioxin levels were above the background," Kruse said, "because I don't know that this right now would give me great confidence as a resident about that. That said, all of the levels, except for that one site, were within the boundaries of what US EPA states is an acceptable health risk."

The EPA says it will evaluate the few locations with elevated levels to determine if any further assessment is warranted.

Summary of Phase 1 Dioxin Results for the East Palestine Derailment Incident: