Ohio train crash: What we know about the toxic chemical spill

A train derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio, releasing hazardous chemicals into the air, soil and water. – and raises concerns about the effects on the health of residents

Shortly before 9:00 pm on February 3, a train carrying hazardous chemicals partially derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio, releasing thick black smoke into the air. More than 1,000 people in East Palestine City and surrounding areas were evacuated by order of the state governor.

On February 8, state and local officials announced that air quality monitoring had not detected pollutants of concern above levels considered safe for humans and that people could return home safely. “The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) reassures the people of Ohio that its food supplies are safe and the risk to livestock remains low following the East Palestine train derailment,” news agency WKBN said in a statement.

However, some residents remain concerned about exposure to pollutants following reports of fish and chicken deaths in the area. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources said the spill killed thousands of fish after the crash, but the chicken incident was not officially linked to the spill.

What chemicals were on the train?

About 50 of the train’s 150 cars derailed, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); According to the letter, 20 train cars contained hazardous materials, including several containing vinyl chloride, a carcinogen. sent to the Norfolk Southern Railway, the company that operated the train.

In response, the EPA installed air quality monitors around the burning train and took soil and water samples from surrounding streams.

The agency found that hazardous chemicals from the train, including vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate and ethylhexyl acrylate, were released into the air, soil and water after the derailment, the letter said.

The most dangerous of these is vinyl chloride, chronic exposure to which can lead to liver damage. In high concentrations, it can cause dizziness, drowsiness and headaches. According to the EPA website, these chemicals can cause odor at concentrations below safe levels.

What actions have been taken to contain the chemicals?

Norfolk Southern contractors built a dam to contain the polluted water at the site. They also used a vacuum machine and absorbent pads to collect spilled chemicals.

On February 6, due to concerns about a major explosion, an EPA team conducted what officials described as a controlled burn of vinyl chloride in five vehicles, diverting the chemical into a trench and burning it. When burned, vinyl chloride forms phosgene and hydrogen chloride, which are toxic to humans at high concentrations.

The fire created a massive fireball and plume of black smoke over the scene, images of which spawned the #OhioChernobyl hashtag on social media.

Is the air safe to breathe?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, air quality monitoring around East Palestine found no pollutants of concern in the first days after the crash or after controlled burning.

Detected levels of volatile organic compounds, including vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate, remain below levels considered hazardous to human health by the EPA, although particulate matter has been detected above safe levels after derailing and after controlled burning.

The EPA continues to monitor air quality around East Palestine and is testing individual homes near the crash site as part of its “re-entry” screening process. As of Feb. 13, schools, the city library, and 291 homes have been checked for evidence of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride. 181 houses have not yet been verified.

Is drinking water polluted in the region?

A water treatment plant in East Palestine was not damaged the day after the crash, according to the EPA website. Water treatment operators downstream of the Ohio River also said they have not found any changes in the river at their water intake, but are taking precautions, such as installing another water intake on another river.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and a contractor hired by the railroad also took soil samples from the crash site and water from surrounding streams. However, until the laboratory results of these samples are available, government officials have advised residents of private wells to drink bottled water.

On Feb. 10, Norfolk Southern released a plan to clean up the area, including digging wells to test and monitor groundwater.

How does the EPA determine safe levels for hazardous chemicals?

Based on general screening levels set by health agencies such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency sets minimum risk levels for various chemicals in air, water, and soil. Exposure to chemicals above this reference level can be harmful to human health, although damage depends on various factors such as the duration of exposure and the age or health of the person exposed.