With support from the Herbert W. Hoover Foundation, Dr. Joseph Ortiz and colleagues at Kent State University investigated the environmental and health impacts following the February 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. By analyzing soil samples collected near the derailment site months after the incident, the team found elevated levels of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) and dioxins/furans—harmful byproducts associated with combustion. Their findings provide the first field-based evidence that these toxic compounds may form together under real-world conditions, posing long-term risks to public and environmental health. This research underscores the need for ongoing monitoring, transparency, and remediation following industrial accidents, and contributes valuable insights into how complex chemical exposures may co-occur. The study is published in Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts and is available open access here (Lard et al., 2025).