Knowing that people across the region still have questions about the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, just across the Pennsylvania border, Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Center is providing an opportunity for those questions to be asked and answered.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, the North Shore attraction is hosting one of its “Society Science” events via Zoom at which its director of community planning, Brad Peroney Jr., will be joined by public health and toxicology experts. They will include James Fabisiak, Ph.D.,
associate professor, and Peng Gao, Ph.D., assistant professor, both in environmental and occupational health at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as Pitt’s Juliane Beier, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine specializing in vinyl chloride and liver cancer.
“The situation in East Palestine is raising questions on both sides of the state line,” says Peroney. “There’s confusion and frustration, and people want to know if their air and water are safe. Carnegie Science Center has recruited experts in health, chemistry and the environment to answer questions and discuss the impacts of this event. We hope this will help people in our region better understand the science of this evolving news story.”
Participants from the public can submit questions in advance or during the free virtual event. They just must preregister first at https://carnegiesciencecenter.org/events/society-science-lecture-series/. There participants can find a link for submitting advance questions. The Science Center welcomes donations.
Speaking of which, the Philadelphia-based Clean Air Council is sending a load of supplies to East Palestine residents. The nonprofit tweeted the list of specific items people may donate from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Aid, 4610 Liberty Ave. in Bloomfield.
The group plans to drive those over on Wednesday and meanwhile is working with River Valley Organizing on a list of other supplies that people not in the Pittsburgh area can purchase and ship themselves.
At 6 p.m. on Friday, a town hall for East Palestine residents will be held at the East Palestine High School Auditorium by environmental activist Erin Brockovich (played by Julia Roberts in the 2000 movie “Erin Brockovich”) and attorney Mikal Watts.
Preregister at https://www.eastpalestinejustice.com.
Bob, a feature writer and editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, is currently on strike and serving as interim editor of the Pittsburgh Union Progress. Contact him at bbatz@unionprogress.com.
