USC to study after-effects of Graniteville chlorine spill

In 2005, a train wreck in the town of Graniteville caused a chlorine leak after one of the tank cars ruptured. Nine people died from exposure to the gas. Now a University of South Carolina researcher is hoping to find if there are still after-effects from the leak on residents of the tiny town near Aiken.

Previous studies by Erik Svendsen found that within a year of the wreck some residents’ lungs were aging at four times the rate they were prior to the accident.

The new $2.9 million dollar grant will follow up on that research. USC says it’s the first long-term chlorine health study of its kind. Svendsen told The State newspaper researchers want to find out if residents are still facing health problems five years later. Svendsen is an epidemiologist who also works for DHEC.

The grant was one of $21 million worth the school says it has received since July.