The East Palosne, Ohio, evacuation process was halted by detonations of tanks carrying toxic chemicals on February 6 after the freight train derailed

The residents of East Palosne, Ohio packed a school gymnasium to find out if they were safe from the toxic chemicals that spilled or were burned off when the freight train derailed.

Authorities in East Palestine had warned that burning vinyl chloride that was in five of the derailed tanker cars would send hydrogen chloride and the toxic gas phosgene into the air. They said Wednesday subsequent air monitoring hasn’t detected dangerous levels inside or outside the mile-radius evacuation zone, which stretched into Pennsylvania. Drabick said air and water samples taken Tuesday from the evacuation area show it’s now safe, and the evacuation order is lifted. State and federal officials and agencies were thanked for their help with the emergency response.

The Environmental Protection Agency maintains that the air is safe and that the agency is continuing to monitor the situation. The EPA says the levels of the chemical that creates the smell are not high enough to hurt the community’s health.

There were no reports of injuries or the release of chemicals on Monday after a train derailed, but some people complained about smelling chlorine and smoke in the air and having headaches.

The decision to conduct detonations on February 6 of some tanks carrying toxic chemicals to prevent a worse-than-expected explosion spurring residents questions about safety, as was heard at an emotional community meeting Wednesday. Though a larger blast was averted, the detonations essentially released chemicals into the air, including vinyl chloride that at high levels could kill and increase cancer risk.

The commander of the Ohio National Guard previously said that members wearing protective gear would take readings inside homes, basements and businesses as officials aimed to ensure the air was safe before lifting the evacuation order.

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No one was injured when about 50 cars derailed in a fiery, mangled mess on the outskirts of East Palestine on Feb. 3. As fears of an explosion grew, officials decided to burn the vinylchloride from five rail cars in the area in order to avoid a blast and send black smoke into the sky.

Business owners in East Palestine have filed lawsuits against Norfolk Southern, saying that the company was negligent and should pay for court-supervised medical screenings for serious illnesses that may be caused by exposure to those chemicals.

During a Tuesday news conference, DeWine said the Norfolk Southern train that derailed was not categorized as a high hazardous material train, meaning the railroad was not required to notify state officials about what chemicals the rail cars contained.

There are a lot of reports about people suffering burning sensation in their eyes, animals falling sick and astrong odor in the town since the order was lifted on Wednesday.

The Environmental Protection Agency, which has been monitoring the air quality, said it has not detected “any levels of concern” in East Palestine as of Sunday.

vinyl Chloride and hydrogen chloride weren’t detected in any of the homes that have been screened, according to the agency. There are some homes left that are not included in the indoor air screening program.

Breathing or drinking vinyl Chloride can cause a number of health risks. People who breathe for a long period of time might experience damage to their organs.

When vinyl chloride is exposed it breaks down from the sunlight within a few days and changes into other chemicals. The Ohio Department of Health says that the chemical will evaporate into the air when spilled in soil or surface water.

The EPA has been monitoring for several other hazardous chemicals, including phosgene and hydrogen chloride, which are released by burning vinyl chloride. Exposure to phosgene can cause eye irritation, dry burning throat and vomiting; while hydrogen chloride can irritate the skin, nose, eyes and throat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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“Now that we are entering into a longer term phase of this, people are going to be concerned about the long-term chronic exposure that comes at lower levels,” said Karen Dannemiller, who studies indoor air quality.

She encourages East Palestine residents to participate in the EPA’s at- home air screening because it is an important point of exposure.

Dannemiller encourages residents to clean and wash their clothes, bed sheets and curtains, in order to remove odors and dust. She also advises vacuuming carefully in short bursts to try to prevent contaminants from moving into the air.

This is in large part because railroads are considered the safest mode of transportation to carry large amounts of hazardous materials, including chemicals, for long distances across the country, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

“If this is true – and I’m told it’s true – this is absurd,” DeWine said. It is time to know when trains carrying hazardous material are going through Ohio.

Warren Flatau of the Federal Rail Administration said that transportation can be used to move bulk quantities. These commodities cannot be moved by road, they have to be moved by truck, which is not looked upon favorably.

Though the risk of a crash and hazardous spill is deemed high by chemical safety experts, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) says “more than 99.9% of all hazmat moved by rail reaches its destination without a release caused by a train accident.”

A researcher and PFAS expert at Northeastern University said that the real issue is the risk of a train explosion. It would be devastating if natural gas were to have a catastrophe like the vinyl chloride.

Ohio EPA and state officials have done several different things to try to contain pollution from the chemical spill. Crews have put oil containment booms in waterways and aerated contaminated soil and water.

The EPA said that there was a spill of chemicals into the local waterways, but most of them were contained. The chemicals which were spilled into the waterway have made their way to the Ohio River but officials want them not to be passed on to water customers.

According to Andrew Whelton, an expert on disasters, environment and water quality,Volatile organic compounds are the focus of most of Tuesday’s news conference, but there are other chemicals that were released in the spill that do not diffuse easily.

“Because of their size, they don’t go in the air as easily,” Whelton said. They like to use soils and other materials. The question is, how contaminated is the creek and what will they do to remediate that?”

Thousands of fish were killed by pollution in the air and water despite assurances, sparking concerns about water and air safety.

The volatile organic compounds released by the controlled explosion can cause symptoms including headache, sore throat, and nose and eye irritation – which some East Palestine residents have complained of. However, Ohio’s state health director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said air quality doesn’t appear to be behind the reported animal deaths near the derailment.

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“Anecdotes are challenging because they’re anecdotes,” Vanderhoff said. We gathered everything that we have so far, and it is pointing toward very low measurements.

Residents of East Palestine were told to use bottled water until the testing on their water source was finished. He said that bottled water is an important way to get pregnant, breastfeeding or making baby formula.

Crews have excavated and removed nearly 500 cubic yards of “vinyl chloride-impacted material” including soil, according to Kurt Kollar, the on-scene coordinator for the Ohio EPA’s Office of Emergency Response. The ditches around the contaminated dirt were blocked by the EPA.

As far as drinking water goes, Kavalec said water treatment facilities should be able to remove low levels of volatile organic compounds in the water, and that the water will eventually be safe to drink.

PFAS don’t break down naturally, which makes it different from other chemicals that can break down with exposure to sunlight. Higher levels of some cancers have been linked to the chemicals.

State officials told the hundreds of people gathered to hear that the local air is safe to breathe and that they would continue safety testing of the water.

Representatives of the train’s operator, Norfolk Southern, did not attend the community meeting Wednesday, citing safety concerns after it said employees were threatened, further escalating tensions.

Norfolk Southern said in a statement that it had decided not to attend the open house because of a growing physical threat to its employees and people in the community.

What is happening at East Palestine’s railroad, and how Norfolk Southern will respond to the public concerns over the smoke, odors, and water problem

Wednesday’s meeting came amid continuing concerns about the huge plumes of smoke, persisting odors, questions over potential threats to pets and wild animals, any potential impact on drinking water and what was happening with cleanup.

“Why are they being hush-hush?” Kathy said about the railroad. They’re not here answering questions. We didn’t know what was on the train for three days.

In and around East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state line, residents said they wanted assistance navigating the financial help the railroad offered hundreds of families who evacuated, and they want to know whether it will be held responsible for what happened.

In his letter to the company, Yost stated that the pollution caused a nuisance, damaged natural resources, and caused environmental harm.

State officials have repeatedly said water from the municipal system – which is pulled from five deep wells covered by solid steel casing – is safe to drink. The governor’s office said that the EPA encouraged residents to get water tested from private wells.

As of Tuesday evening, Norfolk Southern has distributed more than $1.5 million in direct financial assistance to more than 1,000 families and some businesses to cover costs related to the evacuation, the company said Wednesday in a news release.

“We will be judged by our actions,” Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw said in a statement. “We are cleaning up the site in an environmentally responsible way, reimbursing residents affected by the derailment, and working with members of the community to identify what is needed to help East Palestine recover and thrive.”

A mechanical issue with a rail car axle is suspected to be the cause of the derailment, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it has video appearing to show a wheel bearing overheating just beforehand. The NTSB said it expects its preliminary report in about two weeks.

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While the EPA maintains that the air is safe and continues to do testing, “That doesn’t mean [the smells] can’t be nauseating or sickening, or be stressful because the reminders of the incident and the emotions” are tied to the smell, Brown said.

The head of the US Environmental Protection Agency traveled to East Palestine, Ohio, on Thursday and said the agency plans to hold the train company Norfolk Southern accountable for its role in the derailment of a train carrying hazardous chemicals earlier this month.

EPA administrator Michael S. Regan told CNN the agency can use its powers in the midst of the crisis.

A notice of accountability has been issued by the company, and they have signed it to make sure they are responsible for the cleanup, according to Regan. “But as this investigation continues, and as new facts arise, let me just say, and be very clear, I will use the full enforcement authority of this agency, and so will the federal government, to be sure that this company is held accountable.”

Hundreds of East Palestine residents attended a town hall Wednesday night to voice their distrust and frustration. The train operator was going to attend but later pulled out due to safety concerns.

Regan visited the town Thursday and observed some of the remediation efforts following the hazardous train derailment. He said that the EPA was prepared to provide necessary resources and that the state had primary responsibility over the scene.

The governor of Ohio has asked the CDC to immediately send medical experts to East Palestine to evaluate and counsel residents with questions or health symptoms.

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According to DeWine, emergency response teams have a plan in place to prevent any contaminated water from washing into local waterways during the storms.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has assured residents that its food supply is safe and that the risk to animals remains low following the train wreck.

“My concern is how many of those kids are laying in their bed in East Palestine right now that are not safe,” she said. I don’t trust them.

“Yes, harmful chemicals went into the air. I am truly sorry, but we only had one option and that was it. They were going to blow up if we didn’t do that, and we were going to have shrapnel all across this town.

Conaway told reporters Wednesday night that he needed help. “I have the village on my back, and I’ll do whatever it takes … to make this right. I do not plan on going somewhere.

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“We have become increasingly concerned about the growing physical threat to our employees and members of the community around this event stemming from the increasing likelihood of the participation of outside parties,” the company said in a release.

A person living less than half a mile from where the train derailed told CNN that the absence of the company from the meeting was a slap in the face.

Velez and his family are in a location away from the town. He previously told CNN that when he visited the town Monday, a chemical odor left his eyes and throat burning, and gave him a nagging headache.

It was necessary for most people to go home. He said all the people who had to go home complained of smells, pains in their throat, headaches, and sickness. “I have gone back a few times, and the smell does make you sick. It hurts your head.”

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/16/us/ohio-train-derailment-east-palestine-thursday/index.html

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The town hall meeting was last night and they didn’t show up. The public deserves transparency,” he said. The public has a right to know the latest information. And so it’s our job, as the federal government, to hold this company accountable, and I promise you we will.”

Jami Cozza’s family has lived in East Palestine for generations near the contaminated creek, but right now she is staying at a hotel paid for by the railroad due to toxicity from the derailment.

The outlet reported, “Jamie Cozza and her family evacuated to a hotel and have not moved back to town. She was glad she didn’t return after the report said there was bad news. She said she had to demand further testing of her water and soil.”

Cozza said if she hadn’t used her voice, she wouldn’t be in that house right now because they told her it was safe.

An Ohio village that had a train carrying hazardous materials derailed this month, and the Biden administration has sent medical experts to assess the situation, as anxious residents point out signs of potential adverse effects.

“This request for medical experts includes, but is not limited to, physicians and behavioral health specialists,” DeWine wrote in a letter to the CDC. “Some community members have already seen physicians in the area but remain concerned about their condition and possible health effects – both short- and long-term.”

The Biden administration approved the request and began deploying teams from both federal agencies in part for public health testing and assessments, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday.

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Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the situation with the train wreck is more expansive than what FEMA can offer.

The community of 5,000 people along the Ohio- Pennsylvania state line received a federal funding boost as some residents are concerned that they may not be safe to live in.

The head of the federal Environmental Agency Administration visited East Palestine on Thursday to assure residents that the agency has their backs.

Norfolk Southern, the train company, signed a notice of accountability acknowledging they will be responsible for the clean up.

Federal transportation investigators are working vigorously to determine what caused the 100-car freight train to crash in Ohio, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday in a thread of tweets.

In a letter to her, the chairwoman of the board said she was certain that all information would be made public as soon as possible. “Next: NTSB investigators will thoroughly examine the tank cars once decontaminated. We always issue urgent safety recommendations.

Homendy urged the public to not speculate on the cause of the crash, an agency he is in charge of investigating transportation crashes.

During an intense town hall meeting Wednesday in a high school gym, East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway said that the only option was to manually release the chemicals and risk more danger to residents.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/us/ohio-train-derailment-east-palestine-friday/index.html

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Those payments are not included in the company’s offer to reimburse expenses for residents who evacuate, which includes hotel stays, food and more.

Some residents have reported headaches and rashes in the aftermath of the incident and have grown frustrated with the response from the rail company, Norfolk Southern, and public officials.

It’s a sad reminder of what can happen to millions of people living near railways throughout the U.S., according to a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Dr. Mary Prunicki stated that people can protect themselves from the dangers of air or water pollution on their own.

Accidents are not impossible, but it’s not as if they are. These things do happen. And when you’re looking at these things happening near residential areas, you naturally as a community need to have emergency response plans in place,” she said.

The AAR says that they’ve improved the tank car designs to prevent spills. Thousands of first responders are trained annually by the railroads. When derailments do occur, the association says emergency personnel have access to information on what is in rail cars and how to respond to it.

Since 2012 the organization has claimed that they have lowered hazmat accident rates by more than 50%.

It’s important to work with local government to make sure there’s a response plan readily available in the event of a concern. First responders, hospitals and train companies should know about this plan and there should be a way to alert the community quickly and efficiently and in multiple languages that are relevant for the population, she said.

Most important is that the community knows the most recent information when there are accidents involving hazardous chemicals.

“First responders and local health departments, local environmental agencies, and physicians, health care workers — all of them need accurate, timely information” to be able to properly respond and keep each other safe, she said.

Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/18/1157645660/what-to-do-during-hazardous-chemical-spills

What to Do During Hazardous Chemical Spills? Tips for People and Families to Keep an Indoor Air Quality ‘Avoiding’ a Chemical Emergency

Prunicki encourages homeowners to check their indoor air quality. They know what the conditions should be, so they know when something isn’t right. There are several ways to do this, ranging from purchasing an indoor air quality monitor to hiring a professional to conduct a check.

She said it’s a good idea to have medications on hand for people who have chronic health issues like heart or respiratory problems. The CDC encourages people and pets to have a bag ready if there is an emergency.

When a chemical emergency strikes, the CDC suggests that communities hear orders from emergencyOFFICIALS on the radio, tv and mobile news apps or from text alert service.

The CDC has a six-step guide for when communities are ordered to shelter-in-place. All updates from public safety officials should be kept up to date by the agency.

“Staying put for chemical emergencies is different from staying in a shelter during a tornado or nuclear emergency.” The CDC advises you to seal your space off as much as you can.

That entails choosing a “safe room” for family members to easily block off any outside air. Duct tape, towels, and plastic sheets can be used to seal windows, air conditioners, exhaust fans, stove and dryer vents.

Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/18/1157645660/what-to-do-during-hazardous-chemical-spills

A Sensitive Test of Water, Soil, and Water During a Chemical Spill: Revisiting a Concern with the Eluding State of Ohio

Sass, with the NRDC, said Cozza’s instinct is the way to go: If your home is affected by a chemical spill, demand more testing on water and soil to be safe.

In some of the affected areas of Ohio where residents rely on private wells and other private sources, authorities encouraged people to only drink bottled water.

You should not shower with the water and you should not boil it either. Certain chemicals can become more volatile and even be inhalable if heating water is involved.

The outlet spoke to Candice Desanzo, who evacuated the area with her children but returned after the evacuation order was lifted. She is regretting her decision.

Desanzo told Ideastream that all of them had red rashes, loose stool, and burning eyes. I’ve been having a lot of headaches.

“If smells are terrible, regardless if someone’s saying it’s fine, use your own your own judgment and err on the side of caution,” she said. “If it is making me sick, I’m gonna get out of there.”

The lingering stench of chemicals in the East Palestine outskirts as a warning to travelers from Norfolk Southern’s approach to train collision

The people who live in the region are very distrustful of Norfolk Southern and the government and are looking for ways to conduct their own tests.

But Ms. Guglielmo and others, particularly on the outskirts of East Palestine near where the train collided, continue to report a lingering stench of chemicals in some parts of town and have found little comfort in the assurances in light of the rashes and headaches they have experienced.

The threat of possible long-term exposure to the chemical cocktail released into the air and water, coupled with a deep fear that the town and its neighboring villages will be forgotten in the coming months, has also left many residents feeling as if they are on their own to prove that it is safe to remain or return through means that include paying out of pocket for their own tests. Some have become novices in chemistry, rattling off the effects of chemical compounds that had no meaning to them two weeks ago.