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  • What’s the difference between air sampling and air monitoring?

    Air monitoring and air sampling are two different methods of looking at air quality. Air monitoring uses electronic devices to provide real-time readings of contaminants in the air. Air sampling involves trapping air over a period of time in a container that is then sent to a laboratory for analysis…

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  • What are dioxins and how common are they?

    Dioxins are found throughout the world in the environment. Dioxins are a result of industrial processes and other activities such as burning fuels like wood, coal, or oil. Dioxins are called persistent organic pollutants, meaning they take a long time to break down once they are in the environment.

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  • What is EPA’s role in sampling?

    EPA is part of the Unified Command consisting of different agencies to review, approve and direct Norfolk Southern’s workplans and site activities. Surface water sampling is performed by Norfolk Southern contractors, with EPA and Ohio EPA oversight. Soil sampling is performed both by Norfolk Southern contractors and EPA contractors. Air…

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  • I have heard about research being conducted by the University of Kentucky. What is the health tracking survey?

    University of Kentucky College of Public Health researcher Dr. Erin N. Haynes and her team received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct a long-term health study with and for the residents of East Palestine and the surrounding area. The first step is to learn more…

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  • What is the plume map and what does it tell us?

    The plume map is an “event reconstruction” based on known weather and on-site observations during a 10-hour time period after the vent-and-burn operation that occurred on Monday, February 6. It tells us where soot likely fell to the ground and where the highest concentrations of particles may be. This information…

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  • What kind of screening does the East Liverpool City Hospital's East Palestine Clinic offer related to the train derailment?

    The screening tests are based on recommendations by specialists in toxicology to monitor anyone exposed to substances from the train derailment. The tests include urine and blood tests. A urinalysis is done that looks for problems involving the kidneys. The blood tests include a complete blood count (CBC) and a…

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  • Are any other tests ordered?

    There may be based on the evaluation by the physician or other healthcare provider. If a patient is having specific symptoms there may be other tests needed. For example, if a patient is short of breath, they may need to have a chest x-ray or other tests done to evaluate…

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  • How do I Obtain the Populations for Each of the MOVES Source Types?

    See More Frequent Questions about MOVES and Related Models . To output vehicle populations, when setting up your RunSpec select the "Inventory" calculation type from the Scale panel and the "Population" activity option from the General Output panel of the MOVES GUI. The movesactivityoutput table in your MOVES output database…

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  • How are Counties Mapped to Fuel Regions in MOVES? How Can I Substitute Alternate Fuel Formulations?

    See More Frequent Questions about MOVES and Related Models . The RegionCounty table in the MOVES default database maps each county to a MOVES fuel region (defined by regionCodeID). If you are conducting a County or Project Scale Run, you do not need to modify this table to use alternate…

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  • What is split sampling?

    Split sampling is a technique where multiple samples are collected from the same location at the same time and then sent to separate laboratories for analysis. Checking to see if the labs get the same or similar results is a way to determine the accuracy of the data. If there…

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  • Are there specific medical tests available for vinyl chloride?

    Medical tests to determine if you have been exposed to vinyl chloride include measuring vinylchloride in your breath but must be collected shortly after exposure. The test is not useful forvery low levels of exposure. Thiodiglycolic acid, which is a breakdown product of vinyl chloride detected in urine, can also…

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  • What work happens after contamination under and between the train tracks is removed?

    After track work is complete, additional cleanup and assessments will continue. This includes shipping solid and liquid wastes off-site, excavating in areas where rail cars were staged and scrapped, and sampling and monitoring groundwater, soil, surface water, and sediment.

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  • Columbiana County Health District has sampled my private well, will it be sampled again?

    Residents will be contacted if they are within the priority zones and have signed up for private well sampling. Within 60 days after the first sample, private wells are resampled, and residents will be contacted to schedule resampling. Residents within one of the four priority zones can also schedule a…

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  • What are SVOCs (and VOCs)?

    Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of chemicals that can readily transform into vapor (a gas) at lower temperatures. Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are more likely to be liquids or solids at lower temperatures. Some examples of products that include SVOCs are many pesticides, oil-based products, and fire retardants…

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  • How often should these screening tests be done?

    We recommend having these tests every 6 months for the first year and then every year after that. This will allow the doctor or other healthcare provider to monitor changes in your health. This week’s questions are answered by Dr. Gretchen Nickell, Chief Medical Officer of the East Liverpool City…

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