EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (Diya TV) — Vice President JD Vance this week announced a major federal initiative to study the long-term health effects of the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The new program, supported by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, aims to provide answers and care for residents still suffering after the disaster.
The Norfolk Southern freight train derailment in February 2023 released toxic chemicals into the town’s air, water, and soil. More than two years later, residents continue to report health problems, including headaches, skin irritation, and respiratory issues.
The federal government is now launching a $10 million, five-year study through the NIH. The program will track community health and investigate the effects of chemical exposure caused by the derailment.
During the announcement, Vance acknowledged the frustration of residents who have waited over two years for a meaningful response. He said the previous administration “refused to do anything to study the effects of these long-term exposures.”
Vance called the new effort a promise fulfilled. “We’re finally going to study the effects of these chemicals,” he said. “We will finally get to the bottom of what this terrible train crash did to the people of East Palestine.”
The program is designed to focus on long-term health effects, including how chemical exposure may impact children, families, and future generations.
The program is the first large-scale, coordinated federal health study specific to the East Palestine disaster. Kennedy emphasized the urgency of the work and expressed concern that many Americans have already forgotten the tragedy.
“People in East Palestine are still living with the aftermath,” Kennedy said. “This research is essential to understand what these chemicals are doing to families, especially mothers and children.”
Kennedy noted that symptoms like coughing, eye irritation, and breathing problems appeared just days after the derailment. He said these early signs raise deeper questions about long-term health risks.
NIH Director Bhattacharya explained that the new study would be community-led and involve strong local partnerships. Researchers will work closely with East Palestine residents, local clinics, and health departments.
“The goal is to make sure residents are listened to, cared for, and get the answers they deserve,” Bhattacharya said. He stressed the importance of open communication and transparency. The NIH will accept research proposals until July 21. Studies are expected to begin in the fall of 2025.
While the research will focus on East Palestine, Vance hopes it can help others across the country. “Millions of Americans are exposed to industrial chemicals every day,” he said. “This study could help them too.”
He said this program is unique because it combines scientific research with real-time public health support. “No one has tried to do this in this particular way,” Vance added. Vance, who visited East Palestine earlier this year to mark the derailment’s second anniversary, said the town will not be forgotten. “East Palestine, we will never forget you,” he wrote on social media.
The announcement marks a significant shift in the federal response to environmental disasters. By studying the long-term health effects and engaging directly with the community, the administration aims to bring both science and support to families in need.
This federal health study comes after years of uncertainty for East Palestine. Residents have lived with unanswered questions about their health and safety. Now, leaders say the government is ready to provide real answers — and lasting help.
