A toxic train wreck in Ohio ignited a dayslong inferno, spewed poisonous fumes into the air, killed thousands of fish and left residents wondering if it’s safe to live in East Palestine.The fiery derailment in early February prompted fears of a catastrophic explosion of vinyl chloride — a highly flammable chemical linked to an increased risk of cancer. After a mandatory evacuation order, crews released vinyl chloride into a trench and burned it off — averting an explosion but spawning new health concerns.Officials have said tests show the air and municipal water are safe and allowed residents to return home. But some have reported a variety of new health problems including rashes, nausea, bloody noses and trouble breathing.Train operator Norfolk Southern must handle and pay for all necessary cleanup, and the company has sent some hazardous waste out of state — fueling more questions about safety.CNN is chronicling the latest events as new information unfolds. Here’s what we know:Independent lab testing finds elevated levels of chemical of concern in airThe mobile lab monitoring for air pollution found acrolein — a potential chemical of concern — at higher levels than normal, the scientists from Carnegie Mellon University and Texas A&M said at a news briefing Friday. The researchers said the levels of acrolein were notably high at the derailment site. They don’t know what impact the chemical could have on residents’ health, they said.When compared with levels in downtown Pittsburgh, levels of acrolein in the East Palestine area ranged from five times lower to three times higher on Feb. 20.Video below: Erin Brockovich returns to East PalestineAcrolein is a clear liquid at room temperature and it is toxic; it can cause inflammation and irritation of the skin, respiratory tract and mucous membranes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The chemical is used to control plants, algae, rodents and microorganisms.While acrolein was not on the list of chemicals carried on the derailed train cars, it can be created during the combustion of fuels, wood and plastics, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The lab found that values of benzene, toluene, xylenes and vinyl chloride were below the minimal risk levels for intermediate exposures as set by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.The team said there were no “hotspots,” found in their mobile sampling and that the analysis corroborates the data collected by the federal EPA between Feb. 8 and Feb. 22.Investigating health impactsSome said they had experienced health problems since returning to their homes after the derailment. Others said they had lost their jobs or stopped going to work at jobs they felt were too close to the site. They are worried about their children or grandchildren potentially being exposed to toxins and having health problems down the road.Some people say they continue to experience symptoms such as headaches, vomiting, dizziness and persistent coughs, and they feel puzzled by ongoing tests of the town’s air and water that have not detected chemicals at levels that are known to pose health risks. Video below: Residents seek answers over Ohio train derailmentData from some surveys are starting to come available. On Friday, the Ohio Department of Health released preliminary data from its ACE survey, and out of 168 completed, 74% of people said they experienced headaches, 64% reported anxiety, 61% reported coughing, 58% listed fatigue, and 52% said they had irritation, pain or burning of their skin. The health department is still collecting surveys through its health assessment clinic, which will be open again next week. Work has begun to remove the train tracks near the derailmentRemediation started a quarter mile from the derailment site on the south track.The process will involve removing one side of the tracks, digging out the contaminated soil, conducting sampling, and then replacing the tracks. The same would then be done on the side of the other tracks. Around 1,900 feet of rail will be pulled up on both sets of tracks, DeWine’s office said. Approximately 3.2 million gallons of liquid waste and about 1,700 tons of solid waste have already been removed from the derailment site, the governor’s office announced in a news release Friday, citing the state’s EPA. The wastewater and solid waste have been transported to sites in Ohio and elsewhere, including Michigan, Indiana and Texas, according to the release. Norfolk Southern must test for dioxins, EPA saysIn addition to the site cleanup, the EPA is requiring Norfolk Southern to test directly for the presence of dioxins — compounds considered to have significant toxicity and can cause disease. The testing will be conducted with oversight by the agency, according to a statement released Thursday.Video below: Pennsylvania Senate committee to subpoena Norfolk Southern CEOThe EPA will direct immediate cleanup of the area if dioxins are found at a level that poses any unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, according to the statement. The EPA will also require Norfolk Southern to conduct a background study to compare any dioxin levels around East Palestine to dioxin levels in other areas not impacted by the train derailment. NTSB: Train venting devices may have not functionedIn an investigative update on the derailment published Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board also said it was “looking closely” at aluminum protective covers used on three of the vinyl chloride tank cars that derailed.Investigators believe the aluminum covers on some tank cars may have melted in the fire and dripped into some pressure relief devices, “possibly degrading their performance,” the agency said.NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told CNN earlier Thursday addressing this issue would not have prevented the derailment.The pressure relief valves from these cars will undergo further examination later this month, the NTSB said. Residents express anger and frustration On Thursday night, some area residents came to the local high school auditorium for a town hall meeting — their first chance to confront Norfolk Southern since the spill — and expressed similar anger and frustration.The company was ordered to appear at the town hall by the EPA after declining to participate in earlier events.”One thing I would like to say … is that we are sorry. We’re very sorry. We feel horrible about it,” said Darrell Wilson, who was representing the company.The room erupted with shouts of “Buy us out!””Do the right thing,” one man shouted. “Tell Alan to buy us out,” referring to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw.Several people said they believed staying in their homes was making them ill, but they couldn’t afford to go anywhere else. They want the railroad to buy their homes, which they feel have lost value since the spill.”Get us out!” some yelled.”We are going to do the right thing,” Wilson said, responding to the shouts.Wilson said the company had leased office space in town “and we signed a long lease. So we’re gonna be here for a long time,” he said.But when asked whether there had been talk of the company relocating residents, he said there had not.
A toxic train wreck in Ohio ignited a dayslong inferno, spewed poisonous fumes into the air, killed thousands of fish and left residents wondering if it’s safe to live in East Palestine.
The fiery derailment in early February prompted fears of a catastrophic explosion of vinyl chloride — a highly flammable chemical linked to an increased risk of cancer. After a mandatory evacuation order, crews released vinyl chloride into a trench and burned it off — averting an explosion but spawning new health concerns.
Officials have said tests show the air and municipal water are safe and allowed residents to return home. But some have reported a variety of new health problems including rashes, nausea, bloody noses and trouble breathing.
Train operator Norfolk Southern must handle and pay for all necessary cleanup, and the company has sent some hazardous waste out of state — fueling more questions about safety.
CNN is chronicling the latest events as new information unfolds. Here’s what we know:
Independent lab testing finds elevated levels of chemical of concern in air
The mobile lab monitoring for air pollution found acrolein — a potential chemical of concern — at higher levels than normal, the scientists from Carnegie Mellon University and Texas A&M said at a news briefing Friday. The researchers said the levels of acrolein were notably high at the derailment site. They don’t know what impact the chemical could have on residents’ health, they said.
When compared with levels in downtown Pittsburgh, levels of acrolein in the East Palestine area ranged from five times lower to three times higher on Feb. 20.
Video below: Erin Brockovich returns to East Palestine
Acrolein is a clear liquid at room temperature and it is toxic; it can cause inflammation and irritation of the skin, respiratory tract and mucous membranes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The chemical is used to control plants, algae, rodents and microorganisms.
While acrolein was not on the list of chemicals carried on the derailed train cars, it can be created during the combustion of fuels, wood and plastics, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The lab found that values of benzene, toluene, xylenes and vinyl chloride were below the minimal risk levels for intermediate exposures as set by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
The team said there were no “hotspots,” found in their mobile sampling and that the analysis corroborates the data collected by the federal EPA between Feb. 8 and Feb. 22.
Investigating health impacts
Some said they had experienced health problems since returning to their homes after the derailment. Others said they had lost their jobs or stopped going to work at jobs they felt were too close to the site. They are worried about their children or grandchildren potentially being exposed to toxins and having health problems down the road.
Some people say they continue to experience symptoms such as headaches, vomiting, dizziness and persistent coughs, and they feel puzzled by ongoing tests of the town’s air and water that have not detected chemicals at levels that are known to pose health risks.
Video below: Residents seek answers over Ohio train derailment
Data from some surveys are starting to come available. On Friday, the Ohio Department of Health released preliminary data from its ACE survey, and out of 168 completed, 74% of people said they experienced headaches, 64% reported anxiety, 61% reported coughing, 58% listed fatigue, and 52% said they had irritation, pain or burning of their skin.
The health department is still collecting surveys through its health assessment clinic, which will be open again next week.
Work has begun to remove the train tracks near the derailment
Remediation started a quarter mile from the derailment site on the south track.
The process will involve removing one side of the tracks, digging out the contaminated soil, conducting sampling, and then replacing the tracks. The same would then be done on the side of the other tracks. Around 1,900 feet of rail will be pulled up on both sets of tracks, DeWine’s office said.
Approximately 3.2 million gallons of liquid waste and about 1,700 tons of solid waste have already been removed from the derailment site, the governor’s office announced in a news release Friday, citing the state’s EPA. The wastewater and solid waste have been transported to sites in Ohio and elsewhere, including Michigan, Indiana and Texas, according to the release.
Norfolk Southern must test for dioxins, EPA says
In addition to the site cleanup, the EPA is requiring Norfolk Southern to test directly for the presence of dioxins — compounds considered to have significant toxicity and can cause disease. The testing will be conducted with oversight by the agency, according to a statement released Thursday.
Video below: Pennsylvania Senate committee to subpoena Norfolk Southern CEO
The EPA will direct immediate cleanup of the area if dioxins are found at a level that poses any unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, according to the statement. The EPA will also require Norfolk Southern to conduct a background study to compare any dioxin levels around East Palestine to dioxin levels in other areas not impacted by the train derailment.
NTSB: Train venting devices may have not functioned
In an investigative update on the derailment published Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board also said it was “looking closely” at aluminum protective covers used on three of the vinyl chloride tank cars that derailed.
Investigators believe the aluminum covers on some tank cars may have melted in the fire and dripped into some pressure relief devices, “possibly degrading their performance,” the agency said.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told CNN earlier Thursday addressing this issue would not have prevented the derailment.
The pressure relief valves from these cars will undergo further examination later this month, the NTSB said.
Residents express anger and frustration
On Thursday night, some area residents came to the local high school auditorium for a town hall meeting — their first chance to confront Norfolk Southern since the spill — and expressed similar anger and frustration.
The company was ordered to appear at the town hall by the EPA after declining to participate in earlier events.
“One thing I would like to say … is that we are sorry. We’re very sorry. We feel horrible about it,” said Darrell Wilson, who was representing the company.
The room erupted with shouts of “Buy us out!”
“Do the right thing,” one man shouted. “Tell Alan to buy us out,” referring to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw.
Several people said they believed staying in their homes was making them ill, but they couldn’t afford to go anywhere else. They want the railroad to buy their homes, which they feel have lost value since the spill.
“Get us out!” some yelled.
“We are going to do the right thing,” Wilson said, responding to the shouts.
Wilson said the company had leased office space in town “and we signed a long lease. So we’re gonna be here for a long time,” he said.
But when asked whether there had been talk of the company relocating residents, he said there had not.
