Consortium Overview
The Ohio/Pennsylvania (OH/PA) University Research Consortium is made up of about two dozen researchers from seven universities, members of the East Palestine health community, and responding agencies. The consortium is organized by researchers from Case Western Reserve University, The Ohio State University, Kent State University, and University of Pittsburgh. Members of the consortium represent a variety of academic disciplines bringing relevant expertise and research experience. Initial funding to seed this group came from the Office of Research and Technology Management at Case Western Reserve University.
Goal
As an independent group, the consortium is committed to providing accurate, data-driven information to the East Palestine community. To accomplish this, members of the consortium have evaluated data collected after the February 2023 train derailment. The consortium is focused on translating these data to improve long-term public health and environmental monitoring for the benefit of the community. Members of the consortium carefully organized and independently evaluated data from response agencies, supporting institutes, independent researchers, and other sources to develop objective recommendations and suggest additional research if necessary.
State of the Science Reports
Researchers affiliated with the OH/PA University Research Consortium analyzed publicly available data collected by others. Our data briefs summarize these findings based on different environmental matrices. There are data points we would like to see, but have not yet been collected or shared through publicly available data systems. Our ability to make definitive statements about the chemicals tested is limited by the current data available and scientific methods used. Public data that are currently available do not allow for objective assessments of personal health outcomes.
- Data Brief: Outdoor Air
- Data Brief: Plant Tissue
- Data Brief: Water
- Data Brief: Human Health
- Data Brief: Dioxins and Furans
- Data Brief: Sediment
- Data Brief: Soil
Additional data briefs will be added in the future.
Key terms included in the data briefs are defined in this file.
Public Meetings
Public meetings provide an opportunity to share the consortium’s current data summaries with interested groups. Members of the consortium will discuss available data briefs and share any relevant conclusions or recommendations to shape future research. Feedback provided during these meetings will guide future efforts of the consortium.
Upcoming Meetings
Open House & Meeting - July 23, 2024
4:00-7:00 PM
East Palestine High School Gymnasium, 360 W. Grant Street, East Palestine, OH
Join the OH/PA University Research Consortium for our second state of the science update. Together, we will:
- Hear what we've learned by analyzing soil and sediment data collected after the train derailment in East Palestine.
- Meet researchers funded by NIH doing studies in response to the derailment.
- Brainstorm ideas for future research that aligns with community interests.
Refreshments will be provided!
Agenda:
- 4-5pm: Meet with Researchers
- 5-6pm: Presentations
- 6-7pm: Meet with Researchers
Previous meetings
State of the Science Update from the OH/PA University Research Consortium, Wednesday, April 10
Explored the scope and limits of publicly available data collected after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Hear what we've learned about air, plant, and water exposures.
Summarized the health issues and symptoms reported by the community following the derailment.
If you have questions about this event, please contact a community partner, the Columbiana County OSU Extension Office, at 330.967.7249.
Infrastructure Support
The OH/PA University Research Consortium draws on strong infrastructure at our organizing institutions including: Office of Research and Technology Management, Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health, and Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative of Northern Ohio at Case Western Reserve University; College of Public Health Division of Environmental Health Sciences and College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Science at The Ohio State University; Healthy Communities Research Institute and Environmental Science and Design Research Institute at Kent State University; and Center for Healthy Environments and Communities at the University of Pittsburgh.