Ohio Train Derailment: Separating Fact From Fiction

Derailment of a Norfolk Southern train which spilled hazardous chemicals, and controlled burn in East Palestine. Ohio, has become one of the highest-profile — and most politicized — incidents of its kind in the United States in recent years.

Residents of the 4,700-person town have reported a variety of health problems in the week since the accident, which occurred on February 3. They are concerned about the long-term effects for their health. Federal and state officials repeatedly stated that there have not been any dangerous chemical levels in municipal water or the air.

Some experts say that fully understanding the consequences of the accident requires a more comprehensive investigation — and more time to pass. Residents are still trying to understand what has happened, but the political misinformation and crossfire have made it more difficult for them.

Conservatives were particularly critical about the Federal response and the derailment. They used the crisis to create distrust among the government agencies. Some commentators have claimed a cover-up — despite widespread news media coverage — and many Republican politicians have accused the Biden administration of neglecting the community in the incident’s aftermath.

Here is what is known — and not known — about the derailment and its impact.

How dangerous were the chemicals on the train?

According to the Associated Press, about 20 out of 150 trains traveling from Madison (Ill.) to Conway (Pa.), were transporting hazardous material. a Feb. 10 letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The report stated that compounds were released into the atmosphere as follows:

• Butylacrylate is a clear, fruity-smelling liquid that can cause skin irritation and breathing difficulties.

• Ethylhexylacrylate is a transparent liquid used in the manufacture of paints and plastics. It can cause irritation to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.

• Ethylene gly monobutyl-ether, which is a colorless fluid used for making paints and varnishes. In an experiment Some subjects experienced irritation in the eyes and noses, headaches, nausea, and vomiting after being exposed to high levels of the chemical over several hours.

• Vinyl chloride is a colorless, non-toxic gas that’s used to make plastic products. E.P.A. said that the compound was on five train cars. Authorities were particularly concerned in the days after the accident because the E.P.A. claimed that it was present on five trains cars. According to toxicologists, the gas is known as a “mild, sweet odor” When inhaled, it can cause headaches, dizziness and dizziness in the short-term. rare form of liver cancer Chronic exposure.

Once burned vinyl chloride Decomposes to gases, including hydrogen chloride or phosgene. Hydrogen chloride It has an unpleasant odor, and can cause tissue damage. According to the federal toxic substance registry. Phosgene It smells of fresh cut hay, and inhaled can lead to wheezing and coughing.

“We’ve been testing for the most toxic chemicals that we knew of on the train,” Debra Shore, regional administrator of the E.P.A. said At a Sunday news conference “And we have seen no exceedances inside the homes or in the local air.”

Experts still believe that authorities haven’t tested enough substances in sufficient places.

Why was it that the chemicals were burned?

Norfolk Southern conducted the controlled release and burn-off of some of the train’s chemical cargo — a process that generated a massive, sooty plume of smoke on Feb. 6 — to avoid an explosion that might have caused even more widespread damage, officials said. Gov. Mike DeWine (a Republican) signed the agreement, calling it the lesser of the two evils. Josh Shapiro from Pennsylvania (a Democrat) also approved the plan. accused Norfolk Southern was accused of not considering other alternatives and mismanaging the process.

The E.P.A. The E.P.A. has ordered Norfolk Southern clean up all contamination and to pay any costs.

Norfolk Southern, North America’s biggest railroad, said it had given East Palestine businesses and residents would receive financial assistance and help clean the region.

Toxic chemical releases pose a problem because the dangers are not limited to the chemicals themselves, according to Gerald Poje (an expert in environmental health and a former member of U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board). Complex chemical interactions can occur between chemicals and may persist even after they are burned.

“There could be hundreds of different breakdown products that still remain, for which we have often very poor toxicological profiles,” Dr. Poje stated. “We’re oftentimes in this unknown place.”

Dioxins: What is it and what are people worried about them?

Dioxins These toxic chemicals may have been formed when vinyl chloride cargo was burned. These chemicals can take some time to degrade so they may pose a threat long term.

While these compounds are already present in many environments — they can be byproducts of burning fuel, among other things — the E.P.A. They have been trying to decrease their levels for many decades. The agency states that they could cause cancer, disrupt hormones, or cause harm to reproductive and immune systems.

Michael Regan of the E.P.A., spoke out on Tuesday. Administrator Michael Regan said that he spoke with residents about concerns regarding dioxins but did not say whether the agency would be testing for them.

“I’m taking that information back to my team, back to Washington D.C., and I want folks to know we’ve heard them loud and clear on that topic,” He stated.

Murray McBride, a soil and environmental chemist and an emeritus professor at Cornell University, said that more tests were needed to determine whether dioxins had been deposited onto soil as a result of the chemical burn — and if so, how far they may have spread.

Are people getting sick from chemicals being released?

It isn’t clear. Residents of East Palestine complain about headaches, coughs or skin rashes, as well as other symptoms that can be attributed to chemical exposure.

Scientists working for top health and environmental agencies are testing to see if chemicals from the crash, or any residues left behind afterward, have affected the air or water. However, experts from top environmental and health agencies have yet to find out why certain people continue to report illnesses.

Federal and state officials insist that there have been no dangerous chemical levels in the municipal water or air. They cite preliminary data collected from many homes around the city. Pennsylvania officials have also tested There are private wells close to the location of the train derailment. Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

But chemical smells — with notes of burning plastic, nail polish remover and glue — have lingered there for weeks.

Officials insist that the smell of toxicity does not always indicate it. However, many people continue to smell the water from the taps. They also wonder about private wells.

Because of this distrust, residents in Norfolk Southern have begun to seek out independent testing and are trying to find ways they can conduct their own tests.

How did the water quality in your area change?

According to the EPA, contaminants were released into several waterways. They affected approximately seven miles of stream. Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The spillage had already killed approximately 3,500 fish by February 8. Officials created dams around the contaminated zones to redirect clean water.

Dr. McBride stated that although the poison may have caused the death of the fish, it may not have been present in waterways for weeks. Dr. McBride stated that he was concerned about the possibility of vinyl chloride seeping into the soil, which could lead to longer-term problems for nearby wells.

Federal and state officials insist that municipal water is safe. E.P.A. Numerous wells have been tested by the E.P.A. OhioThese were found to be safe. Officials have advised families with private wells in the region to continue drinking bottled water up until they are tested. This is because it has proved difficult due to high demand.

What regulation would have been repealed under the Trump Administration to prevent the train from going berserk?

No. One rule from 2015 that was adopted during Obama’s administration imposed stricter regulations High-hazard, flammable trains require more advanced braking systems.

Trump repealed the rule in 2018. In a statement, last week the White House suggested that Republicans repeal this rule. “stop dismantling rail safety and selling out communities like East Palestine to the rail lobby.”

The train was derailed by a “general merchandise freight train,” According to the N.T.S.B. initial report, it did not qualify as a high-hazard flammable train. According to the initial N.T.S.B. report, it did not qualify for high-hazard, flammable trains, even though it carried hazardous cargo. The regulation was intended to regulate the speed of trains but speed doesn’t seem to be the problem in this instance.

How long ago did federal officials first arrive at this site?

The E.P.A. According to an agency spokesperson, the E.P.A. has been present on the ground in East Palestine from 2 AM on February 4, hours following the accident, to assist state and local authorities with their response efforts. At the end, the E.P.A. There were 17 contractors and coordinators performing air quality monitoring. They had also brought in an analytical mobile laboratory for testing samples, and had even deployed a special aircraft that could assess the release of emissions.

However, officials from the administration have been criticised for what many residents and legislators consider a slow response. E.P.A. Administrator, Mr. Regan. On February 16, Mr. Regan, the E.P.A. administrator, visited the scene of derailment. Noting that the site was 20 miles from his state’s border, Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, a Democrat, decried as “unacceptable that it took nearly two weeks for a senior administration official to show up.”

Pete Buttigieg from the U.S. transport secretary visited East Palestine last Thursday. He was there more than two weeks following the crash. On Friday, President Biden declared that he has no plans to return.

Emily Cochrane, Campbell Robertson, Jonathan Weisman, Raymond Zhong, Catrin Einhorn, Lisa Friedman And Amanda Holpuch Participatory reporting