The days after a train carrying
hazardous material went off the tracks
in the United States in north Eastern
State of Ohio, and burst into flames and
stoked fears of a potential explosion,
and forced thousands of residents to
evacuate. the train that derailed in East
Palestine in Ohio, the third of February
documents from the railway company show,
that was filled with several
hazardous chemical compounds including
the residue of one that is known for its
linked to genetic mutation.
It is believed to be one of the largest
environmental disasters in the country’s
history.
Governor of ohio said that,
our environmental teams remain in East
Palestine where they’re working directly
with the railroad and others to ensure
that the site is thoroughly cleaned up,
with no shortcuts. this morning I
called Alan Shaw CEO of Norfolk Southern
he and I have had contact numerous times
since the crash , I discussed with him
many of the concerns that we’re hearing
you from residents of East
Palestine.
during the accident 38 a rail cars
derailed and an additional 12 cars were
damaged by a fire , and according to the
company of the 20 hazardous material
cards in the train half had derailed, and
five of these cars were carrying Vinyl
chloride . a gas that is used to make
plastic which the Norfolk Southern
Railway company then released in a
controlled burn on the 6th of February.
there was particulate matter that was
detected because of the fire and the
upper said that , it did not detect
chemical contaminants of concern in the
as following them.
and also the remedial action work plan
that the Norfolk Southern Railway
company submitted to the EPA. the company
has said that the train cars the
derailed contained several other
hazardous materials. two cars also have
Benzene residue. the company has said
that it has finished recovering separate
phase liquids that, it collected onto the
nearby surface water and that air
sampling still continues.
Direction of , Department of Natural Resources, Ohio,
Mary Mertz said that,
so our concern in this case was what was
happening with the Aquatic wildlife.
and what we have discovered through the
testing and sampling that’s been done is
that very early on,
you know we have estimated based
on our sampling and modeling about 3500
dead fish across that space across, those
streams tributaries waterways,
12 different species the good news is
that none of those species are
threatened or endangered.
as if now no injuries residents have
been reported either from the operation
to vent chemicals or the accident I mean
while some residents have also returned
to East Palestine after the lifting of
the evacuation order. as the pollution
did not pose a serious threat to five
million people who rely on the river for
drinking water.
although seven Ohio health and
environmental officials have cautioned
that residents using private Wells near
the derailment should only use bottled
water for consumption.
Director of Department of health,
Dr. Bruce vanderhoff said that,
at this stage in the game we are
recommending that people in the
community consider using bottled water.
we are awaiting results
of testing of the municipal water
sources that are going to be fairly
detailed , and will allow us to have a
very complete look at the potential
compounds that could be involved and we
expect that very soon .
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