When Myron Lard graduated from Kent State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and enrolled in grad school at Louisiana State University (LSU), he probably never imagined his scientific expertise would lead him back home to rural Ohio, only 40 miles from where he grew up. But, in the wake of the Norfolk Southern train derailment, in East Palestine on Feb. 3, 2023 – a catastrophe that spilled hazardous chemicals into the environment—Lard’s journey took an unexpected turn.
A native of nearby Newton Falls, Ohio, Lard is now pursuing a Ph.D. in analytical environmental chemistry at Louisiana State, where he and his colleagues in the Cook Research Group, in collaboration with the LSU Superfund Research Center, do research that focuses on environmentally persistent free radicals. These pollutants, which form when industrial chemicals interact with soil and airborne particulates, have been linked to various health issues, including respiratory and cardiovascular problems. So, when a train carrying toxic vinyl chloride monomer derailed and ignited in East Palestine and Norfolk Southern Corporation decided to conduct a vent-and-burn of the train car that carried the toxic chemical, many became concerned about possible long-term contamination issues.
The Disaster ‘Hit Home’ for Myron
“Growing up in Newton Falls, only 40 miles from East Palestine, this could have happened in my small hometown,” Lard said. “It could happen anywhere. So, you really do want to do what you can to help.”
Lard decided to get involved in the East Palestine analysis after he presented his research on combustion-related pollutants at the Environmental Science and Design Research Institute symposium held at Kent State in March of last year. It just so happened to be shortly after the train derailment in East Palestine. So, several fellow researchers at the symposium suggested that Lard’s work could be valuable for East Palestine, given his background and the specific contaminants they study at LSU.
In collaboration with Kent State researchers and other nearby institutions, Lard’s team embarked on a meticulous process to assess the environmental impact of the derailment. In August 2023, they collected soil samples from 27 different sites within the community, including both private and public properties, aiming to identify any contaminants and understand their potential toxicity. This work was done independently from other sampling work gathered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Norfolk Southern.
Collaborative Work and Results
He worked closely with Sarah Eichler, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Kent State, who was already doing agricultural ecology soil sampling work at farms in Columbiana, Portage and Stark counties as a part of her research program.
“The first week we spent meeting with the EPA and coordinating where we were going to sample,” Lard said. “We did some site testing and just looked around, making sure we had the sites that we wanted to sample and contacted the landowners to make sure we had the proper permissions to sample on their property. The second week we collected the samples and spent about an hour at every site, just making sure that we spoke to the landowners. We explained how we were going to use the soil to further the scientific research.”
Once back at Louisiana State, the analysis of the samples began when Lard air-dried and grounded down the samples before testing them. For the dioxin analysis, they sent samples to a certified lab, while he conducted the tests for free radicals himself using electron paramagnetic resonance. The free radicals are known for their stability in the environment increasing the risk of inhalation and therefore negative health impacts.
“The biggest challenge facing this project is that it was an accident and so nobody expected this to happen,” Lard said. “We weren't prepared for this to happen, so we don't really have any data prior to the derailment to compare our samples with. Therefore, we can't really be sure what the connections to the derailment actually are.”
Despite these obstacles, Lard remains hopeful about the impact of his research. The manuscript that he and his coauthors wrote is currently being reviewed for publication in a scientific journal.
On July 23, Lard and several other members of the Ohio/Pennsylvania University Research Consortium presented some of their initial results to the public at East Palestine High School during a State of the Science Forum. The consortium is made up of about two dozen researchers from seven universities, the East Palestine public health community, and responding agencies and organizations. Their goal is to provide accurate, data-driven information to the East Palestine community plus elected officials, the media, and applicable public health and environmental agencies and organizations.
Lard reported that the samples were analyzed for dioxins using EPA methods at a certified laboratory to ensure data comparability with EPA and local standards. Results indicated that approximately 48% of the samples exceeded cancer risk levels, with elevated dioxin concentrations primarily found around industrial and derailment sites.
Comparison with data from Norfolk Southern and the EPA showed consistency in findings. The study suggests that while public properties are more affected, most private properties had dioxin levels below the risk thresholds. The findings highlight the need for targeted remediation, particularly in areas with higher toxic equivalency (TEQ) values.
“As you saw on the response to this derailment, there were so many different voices saying so many different things, and it got a little messy,” Lard said. “The community needs multiple reputable voices coming in and saying, ‘we are all looking at this and we're all seeing this, and this is what the data is saying,’” Lard said. “It's really important to be involved in these community disasters where you need to show your face and need to show that these universities really are here supporting the communities.”
Environmental Justice
Lard’s dedication to environmental justice is evident in his approach.
“Chemistry isn’t just a subject; it’s about understanding the world and addressing its problems,” he said. “Growing up, I was fascinated by how chemistry explains everything around us. My experiences at Kent State and LSU have only deepened my commitment to using science for community benefit.”
Myron’s Experience at Kent State
Beyond the foundational knowledge, data analysis and analytical skills he developed as an undergraduate student at Kent State, Lard is grateful for the mentorship he received from Kent State Chemistry Professors Michael Tubergen, Ph.D., and Alexander Seed, Ph.D., who helped to ignite his passion for research.
“They really inspired me to become a good scientist,” Lard said. “The experiences from Kent State have really motivated me to become the scientist that I am today. Going to Kent State was a really great decision for me, and I am really grateful for the opportunities that arose from that and where I am today.”
While at Kent State, Lard got an opportunity to do an internship at Gojo Industries, the company that makes consumer hygiene products such as Purell.
“That whole experience was amazing,” Lard said. “Being able to be in the lab with professional scientists every day and being treated like a peer and just getting the opportunity to learn so much was an invaluable experience.”
Through the internship at Gojo, he made a connection at Louisiana State, which helped to inspire him to pursue his Ph.D. there. He plans to graduate in December.
Future Plans
Looking forward, Lard hopes to establish a research group focused on environmental justice and be a voice for some communities that might not have that power or voice.
“We can develop a methodology for testing for these specific contaminants and everything, and then we can provide the community with the information that really is important after events like this,” Lard said.