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The Toxic Chemicals Released in the Ohio Train Derailment Are Horrifying
Now that they’ve contaminated the crash site, what comes next?
BY TIM NEWCOMB
DUSTIN FRANZ//Getty Images
- The February 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in Ohio included 20 cars transporting toxic chemicals.
- Some of those toxic chemicals were later purposefully spilled and burnt off to avoid the potential of a more devastating explosion.
- The Environmental Protection Agency released the list of toxic chemicals.
In the immediate aftermath of a Norfolk Southern train derailment near East Palestine, Ohio on February 3, the strewn cars and ensuing fire weren’t the main concern. It was the fact that 20 of 50 cars that derailed—the entire train was 150 cars in length—carried toxic chemicals.
We know now what those toxic chemicals are.
Following the Ohio train wreck, officials evacuated the area under threat from the potential for air and water contamination, especially if the fire led to an even larger explosion. To help stave off the risk of explosion, chemicals in five of the cars were purposefully released into a trench and burnt off, reports Newsweek. That had the potential, though, of releasing toxic gases into the air. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been on the scene, monitoring air quality throughout the area.
According to the EPA, four main toxic chemicals from the Ohio train wreck have already contaminated either air, soil, or water at the crash site. They include:
• Vinyl chloride: A highly flammable colorless gas used when making plastic is a known carcinogenic.
• Butyl acrylate: A flammable clear liquid used in making paints can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
• Ethylhexyl acrylate: A colorless liquid used in making paints and plastics can produce hazardous vapors under heat.
• Ethylene glycol monobutyl: A highly flammable colorless liquid used in making solvent is deemed as acutely toxic.
Additional materials that were involved in the fire included petrochemicals and semolina.
The EPA continues to conduct air monitoring throughout the area of the Ohio train wreck and has not detected any levels of concern since the blaze was extinguished. About halfway through the screening of 228 homes for any indoor air pollution, the EPA has found no detection of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride.
At the time of the train derailment, toxic chemicals spilled into waterways and Sulphur Run. Since the incident, the EPA says Norfolk Southern contractors “installed a dam and a water bypass at Sulphur Run to prevent further contamination of downstream waters. They have also stopped spillage of remaining spilled product onto the stream.”
kanekoa.substack.com on Twitter: “THREAD: Photos, videos, and news reports about the train derailment and toxic chemical release in East Palestine, Ohio. This may be the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history. 🧵👇 https://t.co/0qgtdpN7fQ” / Twitter
Ownership Top Holders | Stock Information | Investor Relations | Norfolk Southern (nscorp.com)
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