Citizens of East Palestine, Ohio and surrounding towns grow increasingly concerned as they suffer health issues they believe to be caused by toxic chemicals that entered the environment due to a train car derailment February 2. A train from the company Norfolk Southern was transporting materials right near the Pennsylvania border when 50 train cars, 20 of which were carrying hazardous materials, derailed and caught fire. Officials stated that the cause of the derailment was a mechanical issue with a rail car axle, though investigations are ongoing. 

Due to the hazardous and unstable nature of vinyl chloride, the material that was in 14 of the train cars, cleanup could not be accomplished by transport. Cleanup crews decided to dispose of the material by creating a ditch next to the train cars, blowing holes in the sides of the cars to release the materials into the ditch, and doing a controlled burn. 

Many people are concerned about the possible environmental and health effects of the materials entering the ground and the sky due to the massive plume of toxic smoke that was pictured billowing into the sky above East Palestine. Vinyl chloride is recognized as a carcinogen, increasing the likelihood of liver, brain, blood, and lung cancers. Although vinyl chloride is supposed to break down fairly quickly, the large amount of it potentially entering the water supply is a cause for concern. In addition, when vinyl chloride enters the atmosphere, it breaks down into other harmful substances, such as hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde. 

Residents of East Palestine were asked to evacuate the area due to the fires and hazardous materials, though they have since been permitted to return and assured that conditions are safe. Despite statements that the town is safe to reside in, many residents have been reporting numerous health issues, and over 3,500 fish have been reported to have died in Ohio waterways since the incident. People have reported symptoms such as rashes, headaches, nausea, and sore throats since returning to the town. Officials have stated that air and water level tests did not detect heightened levels of hazardous materials, but people remain concerned for the health of their families and the environment. 

The Environmental Protection Agency gave a legally binding order to Norfolk Southern, which includes requirements to identify and clean up water and soil contamination, and to reimburse the EPA for their efforts to do so. Norfolk Southern is also facing several lawsuits from evacuated families, and has paid millions of dollars to cleanup efforts and local families. In its cleanup efforts, the company has so far excavated over 15,000 pounds of contaminated soil and 1.5 million gallons of contaminated water. Though Norfolk Southern’s cleanup efforts are ongoing, many believe that the environmental damage is too severe to be reversed and that we will continue to notice consequences of the incident.