Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has slammed the state’s Public Utilities Commission after it claimed the toxic train that derailed in Ohio was not classified as dangerous despite the accident that devastated the area.
Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, fled the area after about 50 cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed in a fiery accident at 9 p.m. Friday, February 3.
Although the evacuation order was lifted last week, locals have since questioned authorities’ assurances that the area is safe.
More than 3,500 fish have been killed due to the toxic runoff, while footage of the aftermath shows plumes of toxic smoke still linger in the area.
Some residents also report persistent coughing, while farmers in the area claim their livestock are dropping dead in large numbers.
The toxic train derailed in a fire accident on February 3, prompting authorities to evacuate the surrounding area of East Palestine, Ohio
A huge plume of smoke from after the incident could be seen for miles
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told a news conference Tuesday that the lack of a poison classification for the train was “absurd”.
At a news conference Tuesday, DeWine gave the community its third update following the Norfolk-Southern train derailment.
The governor contested a claim by the Ohio Public Utilities Commission that the train was not classified as a highly dangerous train, branding the statement “absurd.”
He said the lack of classification meant the railroad didn’t have to keep authorities informed of the toxic railroad cars entering the state, and urged Congress to take action to prevent future problems.
“Honestly, if that’s true and I’m being told it’s true, that’s preposterous and we need to look at that and Congress needs to look at how these things are being handled,” DeWine said.
“We should know when we have hazmat trains running through the state of Ohio.”
Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, also urged residents to have their water wells tested, adding, “Bottled water is the right answer.”
His comments follow numerous complaints from residents about serious side effects following the toxic train derailment.
The train went off the tracks on February 4 while traveling from Madison, Illinois, through Ohio towards Conway, Pennsylvania. All homes within a mile radius had to be evacuated due to toxic vinyl chloride leaking from the site.
Authorities then ignited the toxic fumes in a “controlled release,” causing the highly flammable and hazardous chemicals to become airborne in a controlled environment.
The plume of smoke from the ignition could be seen for miles as more shocking footage of the aftermath of the accident has raised questions about the safety of the area.
When residents returned home after the evacuation, some reported burning sensations and persistent coughing.
Farmers in the area have also claimed their livestock are dropping dead in large numbers, adding to the large number of fish killed due to the toxic runoff.
At Tuesday’s news conference, DeWine said he understood “the anger and skepticism” of the local community following the accident.
“The community impact is tremendous, the inconvenience, the terror — I’m sure more lawsuits will be filed,” he said.
The EPA said Tuesday it conducted “robust air quality tests” in and around the area of the crash and confirmed it found “no levels” of chemicals that could cause harm.
The agency added it had tested 396 homes for toxicity, and none had had vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride detected.
Over 3,500 fish have died in the immediate area due to the toxic runoff
Locals have said scores of farm animals have died after the toxic fumes were released into the air. A North Lima resident, more than 10 miles from the derailment, said her five chickens and rooster died suddenly after the dangerous cars were burned
The EPA said it has not detected any levels of toxic chemicals in the area
Locals have responded to the authorities’ response amid skepticism about the area’s true safety, with some refusing to return home as a chemical smell lingers in the area.
“Don’t tell me it’s safe,” Cathey Reese, who lives in Negley, Ohio — north of eastern Palestine — told WPXI from Pittsburgh last week.
“Something’s going on when the fish are floating in the stream.”
Another North Lima resident, more than 10 miles from the derailment, said her five chickens and rooster died suddenly after the toxic cars were burned.
And Jenna Giannios, 39, a wedding photographer in nearby Boardman, said she’s had a persistent cough for the past week and a half.
She added that she only drank bottled water and was uncomfortable using tap water for bathing for fear of its toxicity.
“They evacuated just a mile from this room and that’s just crazy to me,” Giannios, who set up a Facebook page for residents to vent their frustrations, told NBC News.
“I’m concerned about the long-term health effects,” she added. “It’s just a mess.”
DeWine also noted the numerous online clips showing the damaged area during his press conference, saying, “I know people saw the dead fish.”
Officials at the press conference added that 12 different species of fish have been affected by the toxic runoff, but none are on the endangered species list.
The governor added there is currently “no evidence” that the train derailed intentionally.
After initial investigations into the incident, it turned out that there were even more toxic chemicals on board the freight train than were initially reported.
The finding prompted the EPA to warn that chemicals continue to be released “into the air, surface soil and surface water.”
Environmentalist and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich joined those who have spoken out against the government’s response to the crisis.
She tweeted Monday, “The Biden administration needs to get more involved now in this #PalestineOhio train derailment.
“We are counting on you to break the chain from administration to administration to turn a blind eye – STEP NOW.”
About 50 cars, including 10 carrying dangerous goods, derailed in the city
The February 3 train derailment sparked a fire visible for miles
Hazardous materials specialist and former fire chief Sil Caggiano also said he was “surprised” that residents were allowed to return home so quickly before all their homes were tested.
“I would have much preferred they had done all the testing [first],’ he said.
“There’s a lot of what-ifs, and we’re going to look at this thing in 5, 10, 15, 20 years and be like, ‘Gee, cancer clusters might show up, you know, well water might go bad.’
He added, “We basically bombed a town with chemicals so we could open a railroad.”
Calls from officials to have well water tested have been echoed by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, which is urging its members to do so immediately.
“There’s a certain level of frustration among farmers,” the organization’s director, Nick Kennedy, told NBC News.
“They just want answers. Your existence could be at stake here.”
Shocking footage of the already burning train was captured by security cameras as it passed through Butech Bliss, about 20 miles from where it eventually derailed.
The National Transportation Safety Board reportedly identified a defective wheel as the cause of the derailment.
The agency said: “NTSB investigators have identified and investigated the railcar that caused the derailment.
“Surveillance footage from an apartment building showed what appeared to be a wheel bearing in the final stages of overheating damage shortly before the derailment.”
The dangerous chemicals released in the East Palestine train derailment
A train carrying a variety of toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3.
Some of these chemicals have since been released into the air or soil due to local residents’ concerns about the long-term health effects.
Chemicals released in the derailment include:
Vinyl chloride – rail operator Norfolk Southern said 10 cars burned vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. It’s a highly volatile colorless gas used to make polyvinyl chloride, a plastic used in plumbing, cables, bottles, and credit cards.
Symptoms of exposure to vinyl chloride include drowsiness, headache, and dizziness. Longer term effects can include cancer and liver damage.
Hydrogen Chloride – In an attempt to mitigate the effects of vinyl chloride, officials conducted a controlled explosion of the train cars, releasing hydrogen chloride.
The chemical is irritating and corrosive to any tissue it comes in contact with, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn.
Brief exposure can cause throat irritation, but exposure to higher levels can cause rapid breathing, constriction of the bronchioles, blue discoloration of the skin, fluid buildup in the lungs, and even death.
Phosgene – a chemical that was also released in the controlled explosion.
Like hydrogen chloride, phosgene irritates the skin, eyes and respiratory tract.
Common initial symptoms are mild irritation of the eyes and throat, with some coughing, choking, nausea, occasional vomiting, headache and chest tightness.
Phosgene poisoning can also cause respiratory and cardiovascular failure, low blood pressure, and fluid buildup in the lungs.
Ethylhexyl acrylate – a chemical carried on the train
It is a known carcinogen that can cause burning and irritation to the skin and eyes. Inhaling the substance can also irritate the nose and throat, causing shortness of breath and coughing.
Isobutylene was also transported on the train.
Inhaling isobutylene can cause dizziness and drowsiness
Ethylene glycol mobobutyl was another substance shipped to Pennsylvania.
It can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose and nose, as well as hematuria (or blood in the urine), nervous system depression, headache and vomiting.