A train carrying hazardous materials derailed in Eastern Ohio on February 3rd, releasing dangerous chemicals into the air and surrounding water ways.
The train, which was operated by Norfolk Southern, derailed on the edge of East Palestine around 8:49 P.M. Five out of the 50 rail cars that derailed were carrying vinyl chloride, a toxic colorless gas used to make plastic. Other cars were carrying ethyl acrylate and isobutylene, which is also toxic.
Following the incident, residents in the area feared for their health and safety. On Feb. 5th, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine urged residents within a mile radius of the derailment to evacuate the area.
As some residents began evacuating the area, fears still loomed that a catastrophic explosion would occur at the site of the derailment. On Feb. 6th, officials made an emergency decision to authorize a "controlled release" or "controlled explosion" of the hazardous chemicals in the rail cars.
The controlled release resulted in an alarming cloud of black smoke over East Palestine. Dr. Eric Gato, an expert in environmental toxicology, believes there were no "good" ways to handle the chemicals.
"The controlled release was intended to be the least bad of all the options," said Gato, "however, it appears it has not achieved its intended purpose of safely releasing and burning the vinyl chloride."
Vinyl chloride is a carcinogen that, when burned, release hydrochloric acid and phosgene, as well as other chlorinated hydrocarbons. Hydrochloric acid can be toxic at high concentrations and the phosgene compound can be lethal if one is exposed to it.
Dr. Brandon Quillian, a chemistry expert at Georgia Southern University, believes the hydrochloric acid will be less of a long-term threat due to the chemical becoming diluted as it reacts with other things in the environment.
"Chlorinated organics, on the other hand, tend to linger in the environment and cause long-term health effects," said Quillian.
The clean-up crew at the site wrote a letter to DeWine on Wednesday, criticizing Northfolk Southern for putting workers at risk and not providing personal proper protective equipment.
The letter states that many employees "reported that they continue to experience migraines and nausea, days after the derailment, and they all suspect they were willingly exposed to these chemicals at the direction of Northfolk Southern."
The chemicals from the controlled burning have also spilled into waterways, affecting about seven and a half miles of stream according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. By Feb. 8th, an estimated 3,500 fish had been killed by the contamination.
While it is too soon to definitively say what the overall environmental impact will be, Gato believes instituting a long-term environmental monitoring program for the area would be a step in the right direction.