I live about a half-hour, as the crow flies, from the derailment site, but this article indicates that residents that live near this site are not the only ones that should be concerned.
I’m troubled that this is not an issue about which the Federal Government seems the least bit concerned; perhaps that might change?
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The following article is from American Faith [dot com].
16 States Affected by East Palestine Train Derailment
June 25, 2024
A recent study revealed that the damages caused by the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, have contaminated areas across 16 states.
“Our measurements revealed a large areal impact from the Midwest through the Northeast and likely Canada, and perhaps as far south as North Carolina (portions of 16 states, 1.4 million km2),” the study’s abstract reads.
Geographic data showed that many U.S. states have greater levels of toxic chemicals as a result of the burning of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyvinyl acetate (PVA).
“Observations showed the expected high chloride concentrations, but also unexpectedly high pH (basic) and exceptionally elevated levels of base cations exceeding 99th percentiles versus the historic record,” the study explained. “These results were consistent with the meteorological conditions and atmospheric trajectories, and were not due to highly-concentrated low volume precipitation samples or wildfires.”
Some of the chemicals carried by the train included vinyl chloride, 2-butoxyethanol, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and others, the study described in its introduction.
“Values above the 90th historic percentile are frequent, with most from sites in the Northeast, but also Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin being historically very high,” the study added. “More normal values occur along the East Coast and into the southern states.”
In the days following the derailment, “Lakes Michigan, Erie, Ontario, and likely Huron and Superior” contained pollutants.
According to the study, 14% of the U.S. land areas were impacted by pollutants linked to the derailment. “At this level of certainty, 19 sites had at least one chemical compound in the 99th percentile,” the researchers wrote, “while 8 sites had 4 or more compounds in the 99th percentile.”
Dr. Rick Tsai, a local doctor and whistleblower in East Palestine, Ohio, shared with Real America’s Voice reporter Ben Bergquam earlier this year that numerous residents are facing ongoing health concerns from the derailment.
When asked what kind of illnesses he saw, Tsai said, “So rashes, headaches. I myself suffered welts, a lot of diarrhea. Gastric problems are very common. So I was the only doctor that I know that consistently went against the CDC and tested people’s blood. And a high ratio of people came up with benzene and vinyl chloride metabolites in their blood. The EPA would say, well, maybe they pumped gas that day and got gas on their hands. It’s criminal what happened here and what’s still happening here.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced a $310 million settlement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company.
“If the settlement is approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Norfolk Southern will be required to take measures to improve rail safety, pay for health monitoring and mental health services for the surrounding communities, fund long-term environmental monitoring, pay a $15 million civil penalty, and take other actions to protect nearby waterways and drinking water resources,” a press release read.
Per the settlement, Norfolk Southern has agreed to further cleanup efforts, pay $25 million for a community health program, monitor groundwater and surface water for ten years, monitor private drinking water for 10 years, implement a “waterways remediation plan,” and pay $175,000 for national resource damages.
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Featured Image: All railroads must alert first responders within 10 miles of derailed …
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