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March 2025 Swetland Seminar || Analyzing Soil Contamination After Major Combustion Events
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Analyzing Soil Contamination After Major Combustion Events
In the wake of the Norfolk Southern train derailment on February 3, 2023, in East Palestine, Ohio, significant environmental concerns have emerged due to chemical spills and subsequent open-air combustions. This study focuses on the analyses of soil samples collected within a two-mile radius of the incident site to assess the presence and concentration levels of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) and dioxins/furans, two harmful byproducts of combustion processes. Our findings reveal elevated levels of both contaminants in close proximity to the derailment area when compared to background levels from pre-derailment samples. Moreover, we observed statistically significant positive correlations between EPFR concentrations and specific dioxin/furan congeners, reinforcing the hypothesis that EPFR recombination contributes to dioxin and furan formation. In alignment with previous fundamental studies, these site-specific results are among the first to illustrate a connection between EPFRs and dioxins/furans. These results highlight the immediate environmental impact of the derailment and associated burn and underscore the need for comprehensive monitoring and remediation efforts in the affected area and similar industrial accident sites. This study marks a significant step in understanding the interplay between EPFRs and dioxins/furans, offering insights into their formation, persistence, and potential risks to human health and the environment.
Presenter: Myron Lard, Jr., PhD
Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
North Carolina State University
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myron-lard-jr-phd-238bb9233/