EOH News

A man takes photos as a black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation on Monday after a train derailment
February 20, 2023

Officials burned off toxic chemicals from Ohio train. Was it the right move?

“From a vulnerability perspective, the greatest risk of exposure is in the train workers as well as the responders, the people who did the burn," said Dean Lichtveld. 

 An illustration of a human liver with cirrhosis. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library
February 17, 2023

How vinyl chloride, chemical released in the Ohio train derailment, can damage the liver – it’s used to make PVC plastics

Vinyl chloride – the chemical in several of the train cars that derailed and burned in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023 – can wreak havoc on the human liver.

Experts weigh in on what types of appointees are needed to build a healthier Pittsburgh and surrounding county.
February 16, 2023

Who should be on Allegheny County’s new board of health?

Experts weigh in on what types of appointees are needed to build a healthier Pittsburgh and surrounding county.

Train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
February 8, 2023

What is vinyl chloride, the chemical released from the East Palestine train cars?

“The cloud that was really being produced was not vinyl chloride but what it was being turned into — the combustion product,” said James Fabisiak, associate professor of Environmental and Occupational Health. 

Faculty Researchers
December 15, 2022

Pitt climbs in highly cited researcher list

Five public health faculty appeared in the annual listing of Highly Cited Researchers, published by the UK-based data analytics firm Clarivate. 

How cancer cells can become immortal
November 14, 2022

How cancer cells can become immortal – new research finds a mutated gene that helps melanoma defeat the normal limits on repeated replication

A defining characteristic of cancer cells is their immortality. Cancer cells, however, can overcome this limitation to form tumors and bypass “mortality” by continuing to replicate.

Researchers call for action on lead-contaminated meat
October 25, 2022

Researchers call for action on lead-contaminated meat due to EHN reporting

EHN-The paper, published last month in the American Journal of Public Health, cites an EHN.org investigation that found lead fragments are a known danger in hunted meat, but most states do not inspect for possible contamination.