In East Palestine, residents are still concerned about their health following the train derailment that happened last year. However, their worries go beyond their own well-being, as they also worry about the health of their pets. A recent study conducted by the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School in East Palestine aimed to test for chemical exposure in dogs by drawing blood from local dogs. The study has the potential to identify early warning signs of health effects in humans.
Lonnie Miller, a resident of East Palestine whose family home was close to the train derailment site and fires, brought her dog Chevy in for testing as part of the study. She mentioned that Chevy has developed lumps that were not present a year and a half ago. The goal of the study is to detect health effects in dogs as a potential indicator of health concerns in humans. This approach is based on the fact that health issues typically manifest faster in dogs than in humans.
Frances Chen, a researcher and assistant professor at the Chan Medical School discussed the broader scope of the study, which involves using passive sampling tags to analyze chemical exposures in dogs. These tags can detect over 1500 different types of chemicals in the environment. Miller emphasized how important it was for her dog to be included in the study as it could potentially help individuals impacted by chemical exposure in the future. She noted that although her family home was near the train derailment disaster, it was crucial for pet owners to advocate for their well-being.
The train derailment disaster affected all aspects of life for residents, including their pets who do not have a voice to express themselves. As such, it is essential to take proactive measures towards ensuring that pets are also protected from any potential harm caused by chemical exposure resulting from this disaster.
Overall, this study highlights how closely connected our health and well-being with our pets are and underscores why we should prioritize both when dealing with environmental hazards like train derailments and other natural disasters.
