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EAST PALESTINE -- The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) held its first part of a two-day virtual public workshop Monday to explore potential health research and surveillance priorities arising from the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment. The NASEM heard from residents impacted by the rail disaster and concluded that more resources need to be spent toward action rather than recommendations.
The first day focused on the reported health symptoms in the wake of the rail disaster and communication between the responding agencies and the communities.
"We know many early health impacts are persistent nine months later and we are continuing to see numerous upper airway concerns and lower airway concerns, gastrointestinal concerns and in weakness and tiredness concerns among community members," Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago Kristen Malecki said. "We can't wait nine months for a rapid response."
The NASEM, a panel of professionals who provide expert advice to the U.S. government on issues of science, health, and engineering, said there are lessons to be learned through the East Palestine train response. Moving forward, the NASEM concluded that a broader network of healthcare providers and public health providers are needed to coordinate the response, as is constant communication through community groups, better response coordination, a better building of trust and a better translation of the information provided. The Academies also stressed the need to act fact, listen to the community and to simply to "take of the people."
"We need to listen to the community. As we heard earlier, the community is exhausted," Malecki said. "It's exhausting to wake every day and have to make these decisions. Do you go back to your home? Do you send your kids to school? And how do I protect my family and kids right now? It's time we get real work done and come back tomorrow and think about the simple task of how we take care of the people."
The workshop resumes today at 9 a.m. Local speakers include East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick, Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Executive Director Marcy Patton, Columbiana County Health District Health Commissioner Wesly Vins, First United Presbyterian Church of East Palestine pastor Harold 'Fritz' Nelson, Columbiana County resident Christa Graves, and Jess Conard, an East Palestine residents and Beyond Plastics Appalachia Director.
Other speakers include Assistant Professor of Medicine at University of Pittsburgh Juliane Arteel-Beier, Adjunct Professor at Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at University of North Carolina Linda Birnbaum, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Region 5 Office Regional Director Motria Caudill, U.S. EPA Region 5 Response Coordinator Mark Durno, Michigan State University Associate Dean for Public Health Mona Hanna-Attisha, New Brighton Area School District nurse, Dr. Nicholas Newman of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Director Richard Woychik.
Residents, researchers, clinical practitioners, government agencies, advocacy organizations and all stakeholders were asked to submit information and resources through an online public comment portal on the website to better understand what aspects of the response to address during the workshop.