DUSTIN FRANZ / AFP
On February 3, a train carrying chemicals derailed near eastern Palestine in the United States. Pollution of the surrounding waters has resulted in the deaths of 43,700 aquatic animals, according to authorities.
UNITED STATES – A real environmental disaster. A little over three weeks after a train loaded with chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in the United States, local authorities on Thursday February 23 estimated that more than 43,700 animals, mostly fish and aquatic animals, died as a result of the accident were. Last week, an initial estimate by the authorities spoke of around 3,500 dead animals.
Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said at a virtual news conference that advisory group EnviroScience polled four different sites to calculate Thursday’s new number. By this estimate, 38,222 small fish and 5,500 other aquatic animals died as a result of the derailment, which affected many local waterways.
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Local authorities claim that effective cleaning of the waters has been carried out and the fish are no longer at risk. “We have seen no other signs of suffering in the water. And indeed, we’ve seen live fish come back to Leslie Run before,” Mertz said.
While the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says the chemicals had no effect on land animals, many locals have told the press that their animals and pets have had breathing difficulties or even cardiac arrest. Local residents also reported breathing difficulties after the accident.
The railway company responsible for cleaning
On February 3, the derailment in the town of East Palestine, Ohio, caused a huge fire and the evacuation of hundreds of people. Among other things, the train carried vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic and highly flammable chemical used in the manufacture of plastics. The railway authorities had carried out “controlled” releases of vinyl chloride to avoid a possible explosion that would release toxic fumes.
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The EPA said in a press release that it has asked Norfolk Southern to “remediate contaminated soil and water resources” and “reimburse the EPA for cleaning services provided to residents and businesses for further peace of mind.” This is a mandatory order according to the EPA.
The agency said it would approve a plan detailing “all necessary actions to remedy the environmental damage caused by the derailment.” “If the company does not comply with the actions ordered by the EPA, the agency will step in immediately, do the necessary work and then attempt to force Norfolk Southern to pay three times the cost,” the EPA said.
Impact on local health?
“To be clear, Norfolk Southern will pay to clean up the mess it has caused and the trauma it has inflicted on this population,” said EPA chief Michael Regan.
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President Joe Biden’s administration scrambled to provide safety after the derailment, as residents expressed anger and concern over the pollution and possible health consequences. Some have reported to the media that they have had various symptoms, including headaches, and said they feared they would develop cancer in a few years.
Authorities said the air was “safe” and tests of the water from the city’s system had found no pollutants, but residents are skeptical and some have already lodged complaints against the railway company.
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