Erin Brockovich spoke in East Palestine on Friday evening as part of a legal seminar, informing residents of what it would take to mount a lawsuit following Norfolk Southern's train derailment 21 days before. Brockovich warned residents that contamination problems will continue for years after the derailment. She advised the crowd to journal and document their experiences. Brockovich is already on-record telling the residents of East Palestine not to trust Norfolk Southern and to remain cautious when it comes to their own health and safety.
Brockovich gained fame for battling Pacific Gas & Electric Co. over groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California. It's still contaminated today, and another 50 years of cleanup are expected. The chemicals involved in the East Palestine spill are known to cause various cancers, leukemia or organ damage. State and federal testing has not turned up any evidence of water contamination, but Brockovich and her team said Friday the pollutants are most likely on their way, moving through soil and water bodies.