The chronicle “A planet, solutions” produced by NOWU in partnership with franceinfo, looks back on the train disaster in East Palestine, in the United States.
- On February 3, a freight train carrying several chemical products derailed, for reasons still unknown, near the village of East Palestine, in the Ohio region of the United States.
- The accident led to a huge fire, fortunately without causing any casualties. The authorities are evacuating 2,000 people in the area concerned to prevent them from breathing in potentially fatal fumes.
- The evacuees were allowed to return home 5 days later on February 8. The inhabitants were even re-authorized to drink water from the municipal network.
No health risk according to the authorities
Nevertheless, concern is growing among the local population about the impact of vinyl chloride, one of the products transported by the train. This colourless, carcinogenic and highly flammable gas is used in particular in the manufacture of PVC plastic.
To prevent it from exploding on contact with burning wagons, the railway authorities have caused “controlled” voluntary releases of this product into the environment. The combustion of vinyl chloride released other chemical compounds, such as hydrogen chloride and phosgene.
Excessive exposure to vinyl chloride can cause, in the short term, dizziness, headache, drowsiness. Long-term chronic exposure increases the risk of developing certain cancers, including a rare form of liver cancer.
Residents in the area have complained of nausea and headaches, but the US Environmental Protection Agency has explained that this can occur from inhaling even small amounts of chemicals, without however, it is not dangerous to health.
3500 fish killed
Regarding environmental contamination (air, water, soil, etc.), here again, the authorities wanted to be reassuring. The local Environmental Protection Agency monitors air and water quality: according to his latest analyzes there is no significant trace of contamination.
Still, Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, told a press conference that the incident would have resulted in the death of 3,500 fish of 12 different species.
At the same time, on social networks, many people have shared photos and videos showing, according to them, dead animals (chickens, frogs, fish, etc.) as a result of contamination.
One thing is certain: there are still many unknowns about this accident, whether it is the long-term impact of all the substances released into the environment, or their potential “cocktail effect”. Kurt Kohler of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said cleaning up and monitoring the site could take years.
NOWU it’s the positive medium for getting informed and getting active for the planet! Its mission: to enable young Europeans to become actors in the face of environmental challenges through content that relieves guilt and focuses on solutions.