Residents of East Palestine Concerned with Health Risks Following Trail Derailment and Hazardous Chemical Release
The people of East Palestine, Ohio, are experiencing growing health and environmental concerns following the release of toxic fumes from a train derailment that occurred on February 3.
As NPR reports, The derailment caused a fire in the area that lasted for days, and ten of the 50 derailed cars contained hazardous chemicals such as butyl acrylate and vinyl chloride. Authorities were concerned that these combustible liquids could set off a major explosion, which led to residents being asked to evacuate as a precaution.
#2 You are looking at a toxic cocktail of deadly chemicals purposefully being burned off in East Palestine after a train derailment.
Authorities burned off vinyl chloride, which is toxic & carcinogenic, and released harmful & dangerous hydrogen chloride & phosgene into the air. pic.twitter.com/YHmAhRxshi
— kanekoa.substack.com (@KanekoaTheGreat) February 13, 2023
On February 6, crews conducted what officials called a “controlled release” of the hazardous chemicals, which caused a large plume of black smoke. The evacuation order was lifted on February 8, and since then, there have been numerous reports of people experiencing a burning sensation in their eyes, animals falling ill, and a strong odor lingering in the town, the Washington Post reports.
⚠️ JUST IN: Woman finds all her chickens dead 10 miles from East Palestine, Ohio.
Following the major deadly release of toxins the “chickens slowed down & died”.
“If it can do this to chickens in a night, imagine what it will do to us in 20 years”. #OhioChernobyl pic.twitter.com/KSMyimYcgS
— Upward News (@UpwardNewsHQ) February 14, 2023
In response to the incident, some business owners and East Palestine residents have filed lawsuits against Norfolk Southern, alleging negligence and demanding the company fund court-supervised medical screenings for serious illnesses that may be caused by exposure to the chemicals.
A cloud of toxic black smoke rises above derailed train cars in East Palestine, Ohio.
The release of toxic fumes from the derailed train cars has raised concerns about the short and long-term side effects of exposure to these chemicals. Of particular concern is vinyl chloride, a carcinogen that becomes a gas at room temperature and is commonly used to make PVC, a type of plastic used for pipes, wire and cable coatings, and car parts, The Columbus Dispatch reports. Breathing or drinking vinyl chloride can cause dizziness, headaches, and liver damage, and long-term exposure can have even more serious health consequences.
East Palestine, OH is the most catastrophic event covered up in recent history.
The toxicity of these chemicals is causing animals to die hundreds of miles away.
It’s in the air, water and soil.
EPA: “it’s safe”.
Your “government” is killing you. pic.twitter.com/FYwOQXGFSI
— Stew Peters (@realstewpeters) February 13, 2023
The Environmental Protection Agency has been monitoring the air quality in East Palestine, and while it has not detected “any levels of concern” in the area, it is important to note that the harmful effects of these toxic chemicals largely depend on the concentration and exposure, Cleveland 19 reports.
“Now that we are entering into a longer-term phase of this, people are going to be concerned about the long-term chronic exposure that comes at lower levels,” said Karen Dannemiller, a professor at Ohio State University who studies indoor air quality.
Residents of East Palestine have been forced to evacuate their homes.
To protect themselves and their families, residents are advised to wipe down surfaces, especially areas that collect dust, and wash items that absorb smells, such as bedsheets and curtains. Vacuuming carefully in short bursts is also recommended to prevent contaminants from moving into the air. However, as Food Safety News reports, air cleaners and masks are unlikely to be effective against hazardous chemicals like vinyl chloride because of their tiny molecules.
The fallout from the chemical spill in East Palestine could have a massive impact on other regions in the U.S.
The derailment in East Palestine serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of transporting hazardous materials and the importance of ensuring that these materials are handled with the utmost care. It also highlights the need for better safety regulations and preparedness measures to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future.
Help us call on the EPA to issue new RMP safety standards that prioritize hazard reduction
It’s time for the EPA to use the authority it was given in the 1990 Clean Air Act to prevent chemical disasters at their source, and to require all chemical producers and users to adopt safer processes and chemicals. It’s not just a transportation and industrial safety concern, it’s a national security issue, and we need to act now before it’s too late.
If you care about the safety of your community, the health of your loved ones, and the future of our country, join the movement to protect Americans from this type of disaster. Sign our petition urging the EPA to issue new RMP safety standards that prioritize hazard reduction at the plant level!
