It took long enough, but federal officials will now study the possible health outcomes after the February 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The National Institutes of Health is launching a $10 million research initiative.

In announcing the effort, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. thanked Vice President JD Vance for continuing to press the matter.

“You helped drive the first large-scale, coordinated, multi-year federal study dedicated to the long-term health effects of the East Palestine, Ohio disaster,” Kennedy said. “The people of East Palestine have a right to clear, science-backed answers about the impact on their health.”

Once officials have reviewed different types of studies and community activities, research is expected to begin this fall. It’s hard not to wonder how much data has been lost as we are nearly two-and-a-half years out from a Norfolk Southern derailment of cars carrying chemicals including vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylene glycol and benzene residue.

We must hope that, should that study reveal damage has been done that warrants medical and financial support, there will be some measure in place. Nothing less is acceptable.