Train derails in eastern Ohio, sparks fire, releases toxic chemicals into air, soil and water – Raise concerns about health impacts of residents
environment
February 14, 2023
Aerial view of train derailment in Ohio on February 8 MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Just before 9 p.m. on February 3, a train carrying a dangerous chemical partially derailed in eastern Ohio, catching fire and sending thick black smoke into the air. More than 1,000 of his people in eastern Palestinian towns and surrounding areas have been evacuated by order of the governor.
On February 8, state and local officials said air quality monitoring had detected no pollutants of concern above levels considered safe for humans, and it was safe for people to return home. Did. “The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is assuring Ohioans that food supplies remain safe and risk to livestock remains low following the East Palestinian Railroad derailment,” the agency said. said in a statement to WKBN News.
However, some residents remain concerned about their exposure to pollutants following reports of dead fish and chickens in the area. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said the spill killed thousands of fish after the crash, but the chicken incident has not been officially linked to the spill.
What chemicals were on the train?
About 50 of the train’s 150 cars were affected by the derailment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).According to the letter, 20 carriages on the train were listed as containing hazardous materials, including one containing vinyl chloride, a carcinogen. It was sent to the Norfolk Southern Railway, which operated the train.
In response, the EPA installed air quality monitoring equipment around the burning train and took soil and water samples from surrounding streams.
The agency found that hazardous chemicals, including vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate and ethylhexyl acrylate, were released from the train into the air, soil and water after the derailment, according to the letter.
The most dangerous of these is vinyl chloride, and chronic exposure to it can cause liver damage.High concentrations can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and headaches. According to the EPA’s website, these chemicals can stink at concentrations below safe levels.
What steps have been taken to contain the chemicals?
Norfolk Southern contractors built a dam to contain the contaminated water at the site. A vacuum truck and absorbent pads were also used to collect the spilled chemicals.
On Feb. 6, due to fears of a large explosion, an EPA team conducted what officials called controlled burning of vinyl chloride from five vehicles, diverting the chemicals into a trench and burning them. . Burning vinyl chloride produces phosgene and hydrogen chloride, which are toxic to humans in high concentrations.
The burn produced a huge fireball and column of black smoke over the scene, and images of it spawned the hashtag #OhioChernobyl on social media.
Derailed train caught fire in Ohio, releasing toxic chemicals Jean J. Pusker/AP/Shutterstock
Is the air safe to breathe?
According to the EPA, air quality monitoring around East Palestine detected no pollutants of concern for several days after the crash or after the controlled burn.
Although detection levels of volatile organic compounds such as vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate are below the levels that the EPA considers dangerous to human health, particulate matter has exceeded safe levels after derailment and controlled combustion. Detected.
The EPA continues to monitor air quality around East Palestine, testing individual homes near derailments as part of its “re-entry” screening process. As of February 13, schools, town libraries and 291 homes were inspected and no PVC or hydrogen chloride was detected. 181 homes had not yet been screened.
Is the local drinking water polluted?
The day after the derailment, the East Palestinian water treatment plant was unaffected, according to the EPA website. A water treatment company downstream of the Ohio River also said it had seen no change in the river at its intake, but was taking precautionary measures, such as installing another intake on a different river.
Contractors hired by the Ohio Environmental Agency and the railroad company also sampled soil at the derailment site and water from surrounding creeks. But until test results come back from these samples, state officials are encouraging residents with private wells to drink bottled water.
On February 10, Norfolk Southern announced plans to clean up the site, including digging wells to test and monitor groundwater.
How does EPA determine safe levels for hazardous chemicals?
Based on common screening levels set by health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the EPA has set minimum risk levels for various chemicals in air, water, and soil. Exposure to chemicals above screening levels can impair human health, but the damage depends on many factors, including the length of exposure and the age and health of the person exposed.
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