A day after crews released and burned toxic chemicals transported by a wrecked train In Ohio, residents remain in the dark about what toxic substances might be lingering in their evacuated neighborhoods.
About 50 cars, including 10 with dangerous goods, derailed in one fiery crash Friday night in eastern Palestine, according to rail operator Norfolk Southern and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine previously ordered evacuations in the area of the derailment, which has been smoldering since Friday night.
Vinyl chloride was slowly released into the air from five of the 10 derailed cars on Monday before crews ignited it to get rid of the highly flammable, toxic chemicals in a controlled environment, creating a cloud of dark smoke.
The effects of burning vinyl chloride are of concern.
WHAT IS VINYL CHLORIDE?
The gas is used to make the hard plastic resin polyvinyl chloride in plastic products. It is found in products such as credit cards, furniture and car parts, but is primarily used in PVC plastic pipe, a common material used in plumbing.
IS IT DANGEROUS?
According to the federal government’s National Cancer Institute, vinyl chloride is associated with an increased risk of liver cancer and other cancers.
The effect was studied in PVC pipe makers who inhaled vinyl chloride and developed rare liver cancer, said Ruth Lunn, who studies carcinogens at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
“If you worked longer, you were at higher risk, and if your exposure levels were high, you were at higher risk,” Lunn said.
Vinyl chloride is dozens of times less toxic per molecule than the US-banned insecticide DDT, but more dangerous per part than ammonia and natural gas, according to federal regulations mandating acceptable levels in air.
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT FIRE?
Officials warned that controlled burning would release phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air. Phosgene is a highly toxic, colorless gas with a strong odor that can cause vomiting and breathing difficulties and was used as a weapon in World War I.
Phosgene is considered safe at 0.1 ppm over an 8 hour exposure or 0.2 ppm over a 15 minute exposure. The eight-hour exposure threshold would need to be even lower when measuring in people’s homes, where residents often spend more than eight consecutive hours.
Hydrogen chloride is a colorless to yellowish gas with a strong odor and is particularly irritating to the skin, eyes, nose and throat in humans. It is considered safe at 5 ppm for an eight hour exposure.
WHAT IS MONITORED?
James Justice of the US Environmental Protection Agency said a network of air station monitors inside and outside the evacuation zone were collecting samples and that none of their readings revealed anything of concern. “We want to make sure that doesn’t change,” he said.
Justice said the agency is still working with experts to determine safe levels for various gases before the evacuation zone reopens. The Incident Response Team did not specify which substances it monitors.
The gases experts suspect are in the area are heavier than air, meaning they could be sitting in low-lying areas if not fully dissipated.
National Guard members wearing protective gear are taking measurements in homes, basements and businesses, Maj. Gen. John Harris Jr. said.
The EPA also took samples from nearby rivers to determine if water pollution had occurred and is awaiting the results.
WHEN WILL THE RISK OVER?
Whatever chemicals are in the air, gases dissipate fairly quickly outdoors, said George Gray, a professor of public health at George Washington University. “Sunlight can change that, air movement can change that, temperature can change that.”
Local residents are concerned about the long-term effects of substandard exposure.
“There’s all this smoke in there and all these chemicals,” said Mason Shields, who lives in eastern Palestine and is visiting a relief center outside the evacuation zone next week or month or however long.
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Borenstein reported from Kensington, Maryland. Patrick Orsagos contributed from East Palestine, Ohio.
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