Background
On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, forcing nearly half of the village’s 4,800 residents to evacuate. A controlled burn of five tankers released phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air—chemicals that can cause irritation, breathing problems, vomiting, and other health effects. Concerns about possible long-term environmental and health impacts remain high among residents and surrounding communities.
Research Focus
The Healthy Futures Research Project partners with residents of East Palestine and nearby communities to study the potential health effects of chemical exposure through community-based participatory research. Researchers are examining DNA damage that may increase the risk of cancer, metabolic disease, autoimmune conditions, and other chronic illnesses. The project also includes interviews with residents to better understand quality of life, healthcare needs, and perceptions of risk after the disaster.
Interested in participating? Take the Healthy Futures Research Participant Screener to check your eligibility.
Healthy Futures Research Participant Screener
Research Team
The multi-center research team is comprised of epidemiologists, community outreach specialists, and healthcare advocates and is supported by partnerships at institutions across the affected region.
- Fredrick Schumacher, PhD, MPH
- Erika Trapl, PhD
- Daniel Tisch, PhD, MPH
- Maeve MacMurdo, MBChC, MPH
- Maura McCall, PhD, RN
Project Updates
Healthy Futures Research is currently developing a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to guide future participant recruitment and advocacy efforts. This group will ensure that residents are able to help shape current and future research projects. If you are interested in participating in the Healthy Futures Research CAB or receiving research updates, fill out the form here.
Next Steps
- Host stakeholder engagement events to introduce the project and research team to the community and recruit a resident cohort.
- Collect participant exposure and individual health risk profiles via online questionnaires.
- Collect participant biospecimens to assess exposure impact on residents' health and determine the relationship between proximity from the exposure epicenter and DNA damage.
- Conduct interviews with residents on coping strategies, how disaster shapes risk perception, and their access to health-protective resources.
News Coverage
Case Western Reserve University seeks volunteers for East Palestine health study
WOIO Channel 19 News
Case Western Reserve University researchers study health impact of East Palestine train derailment
WKYC
Studying East Palestine residents for signs of cancer, after train derailment
cleveland.com
East Palestine Train Derailment: CWRU embarks on study of health effects on residents
The Plain Dealer
Study Seeks Participants to Examine Health Impact of East Palestine Disaster
Public News Service
Study considers East Palestine post-derailment link between air quality, disease
Ideastream Public Media
Case Western to study train derailment impact
WFMJ
Resources
- Healthy Futures Research Participant Screener
- Ohio Department of Health East Palestine Train Derailment Information
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency East Palestine Train Derailment Information
Contact
For more information, email the study team at healthyfutures@case.edu.