Upcoming Dates and Topics for Swetland Center Virtual Seminar Series:
Join us for the monthly Swetland Seminar Series!
Panel Presentation: Digital Strategies for Improving Healthy Food Access Among SNAP Consumers: The Case of the Produce Path App
Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Time: 9:00 - 10:00am (Eastern)
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Panelists:
- Katie Poppe, MPH, RDN
- Research Associate
- Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health
- School of Medicine
- Case Western Reserve University
- Owusua Yamoah, PhD, MA
- Research Scientist
- Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health
- School of Medicine
- Case Western Reserve University
- Traci Singree
- Farmers Market Operational Manager
- Cuyahoga Valley Farmers Market
Moderator:
- Darcy Freedman, PhD, MPH
- Director
- Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health
- School of Medicine
- Case Western Reserve University
Learn more here.
Join us for the Swetland Seminar Series!
Analyzing Soil Contamination After Major Combustion Events
Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Time: 9:00 - 10:00am (Eastern)
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Speaker:
- Myron Lard, Jr., PhD
- Postdoctoral Research Scholar
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
- North Carolina State University
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.