Plumes of smoke, questions about dead animals, worries about drinking water. A train derailment in Ohio and the subsequent burning of some of the dangerous chemicals has made people ask: how should worry?
It’s been more than a week since about 50 freight train cars derailed in a fiery mess on the outskirts of East Palestine near the Pennsylvania state line, apparently due to mechanical problems with rail car axles. No one was injured in the accident. But concerns about air quality and hazardous chemicals on the train prompted some villagers to leave, and officials later ordered evacuations in the area amid fears of a possible explosion from the smoldering wreckage.
Officials wanting to avoid the danger of an uncontrolled explosion chose to deliberately release and ignite toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke billowing again high into the sky. The horrifying sight has people questioning the potential health impact for residents in the area and beyond, even as authorities continue to do their best to protect people.
In this day and age, citizens’ concerns and questions are many – amplified, in part, by misinformation circulating online.
More on what we know:
IS BURN CONTROL SAFE?
Vinyl chloride is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, and officials at the time warned that burning will release two types of gases – hydrogen chloride and phosgene, which were used as weapons in World War I. Environmental officials said that monitors detected toxins in the air at the site during the fire was under control and the officials prevented them from disappearing. He said that air monitoring continued for the railways and by government agencies had not detected dangerous levels in the area – including during tests in almost 400 homes – as residents were allowed to return. The US Environmental Protection Agency has shared the results of its air monitoring online.
WHAT DOES RECIPE MEAN IN ENGLISH?
Even in communities outside of East Palestine, some residents say they are concerned about the long-term effects of even exposure to contamination from the site. The village has organized a town hall at the high school on Wednesday evening to hear questions from residents, whose concerns include the persistent smell, how to ensure responsibility for cleaning, and what to do for animals and livestock that are sick or dead from now on . derailment.
The risk to the animals is low, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which advises people to contact their local veterinarian for livestock or animal health concerns. The department has not received official reports of livestock or animal illnesses or deaths directly related to the incident, though making that determination would require necropsies and laboratory work, the ODA said.
The derailment also raises questions about railroad safety, though federal data shows accidents involving hazardous materials on this scale are rare. Trains are running through East Palestine again after the evacuation order is lifted.
WHAT ABOUT LAND AND WATER?
Contamination from the derailed car spilled into several waterways and was toxic to fish, but officials said drinking water in the area remained protected.
In addition to vinyl chloride, at least three other substances – butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, and ethylene glycol monobutyl – were released into the air, soil or water, according to a letter from the US Environmental Protection Agency that stated the Norfolk Southern rail operator in this regard. potential liability for cleaning costs.
Norfolk Southern’s response included efforts to remove spill contaminants from surface soils and nearby streams, as well as air quality monitoring, soil sampling and surveys of residential water wells, according to a preliminary remediation plan.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimates the spill affected more than 7 miles of streams and killed about 3,500 fish, mostly small ones such as minnows and darters.
In response to reports that butyl acrylate was detected in the nearby Ohio River, several water companies that draw drinking water from there – even hundreds of miles from the site – said they were monitoring water quality or adding treatment processes as a precaution and could be temporary. turn off that intake if necessary.
ARE SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIMS ABOUT THIS SITUATION ACCURATE?
As with any evolving situation, misinformation and hyperbole have spread online about the derailment in recent times.
Social media users, for example, falsely claimed that drinking water was contaminated in the entire Ohio River basin when many areas in the multistate region were unaffected by the chemical release.
Footage of dark and ominous clouds has also circulated with claims showing East Palestine after it was set on fire, although the footage has been seen online since November 2022.
As information continues to evolve, disinformation experts stress that people should exercise caution before sharing unverified claims.
What can cause accidents?
Investigators are examining the train car that started the derailment and have surveillance video from the front showing “what appears to be a wheel bearing in the final stage of overheat failure moments before the derailment,” the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday. A preliminary report is expected within two weeks.
Rail operator Norfolk Southern and the NTSB have yet to respond to public questions about the Feb. 3 derailment, however: When the crew was alerted to a mechanical problem with the rail car’s axles — the suspected cause — and they responded. precisely?
A roadside defect detector alerted crews to a mechanical problem “shortly before derailment,” and emergency brakes were initiated, members of the National Transportation Safety Board said this weekend.
Security video from two businesses in Salem, Ohio, showed the underside of a rail car glowing from an apparently burning axle, suggesting the train may have traveled more than 20 miles with the malfunction before the derailment, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. The NTSB said it is reviewing the video as well.
Learn how to navigate and build trust in your business with The Trust Factor, a weekly newsletter that examines what leaders need to succeed. Log in here.