A train derailment in Ohio has become an environmental crisis.
Last Friday, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed near East Palestine, a village with a population of 5,000. The accident resulted in a 50-car pileup with 20 of them carrying dangerous chemicals. Thick black smoke was released into the air for days.
Two days later, the Ohio governor, Mike DeWine, ordered residents to evacuate, warning them about a tanker failure that could eject deadly shrapnel for up to a mile. 14 tankers carried vinyl chloride, which is a very flammable, toxic, and possibly cancer-causing chemical.
Moving the tankers was not an option since vinyl chloride boils at 8°F. Officials decided to conduct a controlled burn a day after the evacuation order, which released phosgene and hydrogen chloride. Both are dangerous gases. Residents were worried when they saw smoke and reported headaches, dizziness, and an odd chemical taste in the air.
To make matters worse, the EPA confirmed there were other dangerous substances leaking into waterways, though drinking water was allegedly still safe.
Two days after the controlled burn, the EPA announced that the air quality was at a normal level again. The public remained skeptical and cautious as reports of ill livestock spread. Distrust toward government officials peaked when a NewsNations journalist was arrested while covering the Ohio governor’s press conference.
The public has also filed lawsuits against Norfolk Southern for negligence.
In response to the negative public sentiment, Governor DeWine commented it was “very understandable” for residents to ask for testing before going back to their houses. He also promised Norfolk Southern will pay for cleanup and must prove that its operations are safe.
Reference:
https://www.fastcompany.com/90848025/ohio-train-derailment-toxic-chemicals-pvc-spill-fire-disaster
