On February 3rd, a freight train containing hazardous materials derailed near East Palestine, Ohio. Eleven of the thirty-eight derailed cars carried vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, and isobutylene. These substances are considered toxic to both humans and the environment. Early investigation shows the train derailed due to a faulty wheel bearing on one of the cars.
Contamination
In the days following the derailment, residents of East Palestine evacuated while remediation crews moved in to control the hazardous materials. Remediation teams conducted a controlled explosion in an effort to remove the substances. The explosion burned the remaining vinyl chloride, which caused a large black plume of smoke to engulf East Palestine.
The substances of particular concern were vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate. Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas used to produce PVC and hard plastics. Butyl acetate is a clear liquid used in paint, adhesives, and caulk. Inhalation of these chemicals can cause headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and nausea. Liver damage and cancer have been linked to chronic exposure to vinyl chloride. In the last few weeks, residents in East Palestine have reported various ailments, including shortness of breath, headaches, and skin rashes.
In a statement released by the railway company Norfolk Southern, over 15,000 pounds of soil and 1.1 million gallons of contaminated water have been removed from the crash site. The evacuation was lifted on February 8th after the state of Ohio’s Environmental Protection Agency and the EPA determined the local air quality and drinking water was safe for residents. Many residents have expressed concern about the conditions despite the results of the environmental quality tests.
Surrounding Waterways and Wetlands
A predominant concern for most residents and Americans has been the proximity of the train derailment to the Ohio River. The Ohio River is one of five major rivers that flows into the Mississippi River. A hazardous release of significant magnitude would not only affect the surrounding environment but would have severe implications for the environment and people living downstream.
Sulphur Run is a local stream that flows into the Ohio River and crosses into the derailment site. In an effort to prevent further contamination downstream, officials rerouted and dammed a portion of Sulphur Run upstream of the derailment site. Sulphur Run was determined to have significant contamination downstream of the derailment and was lined with a series of aeration and carbon pumps to filter the contaminants from the stream. The Ohio EPA has stated that downstream waterways have low levels of contaminants but do not present concern at this time.
It is currently unclear how this release has impacted nearby wetlands. In the NWI map below, several forested and freshwater wetlands surround East Palestine. We will hopefully know the extent of the contamination in neighboring wetlands as more environmental assessments are completed.
Sources
Cohen, L. (2023). Ohio train derailment contaminated at least 15,000 pounds of soil and 1.1 million gallons of water, Norfolk Southern says. CBS News. Retrieved from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-train-derailment-contaminated-soil-water-norfolk-southern-says-east-palestine/
Phillips, A. (2023). Aerial Video of Ohio River Shows Color Change After Chemical Spill. Newsweek. Retrieved from https://www.newsweek.com/video-ohio-river-color-change-toxic-spill-east-palestine-train-derailment-1782395
Salahieh, N., Yan, H., & Colbert, C. (2023). As reports of health problems near a toxic train wreck pile up, Ohio sets up a clinic while federal help gets into gear. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/20/us/ohio-train-derailment-east-palestine-monday/index.html
Sullivan, B. (2023). What to know about the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. NPR. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2023/02/16/1157333630/east-palestine-ohio-train-derailment