Sputnik
Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, the site of a train wreck that resulted in a so-called controlled release of chemicals, told Sputnik they have continued to experience headaches and burning skin, among other symptoms, and are filled with anxiety about whether they are all subject to long-term health risks such as cancer.
On February 3, a train hauling 20 cars with hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. A massive fire erupted as a result of the derailment, leading to officials burning vinyl chloride inside five of the tanker cars in order to avoid a catastrophic explosion.
The chemicals inside the five rail cars were diverted and burnt as part of what officials called a "controlled release," letting off toxic chemicals such as hydrogen chloride and phosgene into the environment.
Other chemicals released include butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl, according to media reports.
In addition to people, the chemicals took a toll on wildlife in the area. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources told Sputnik around 3,500 fish died in waterways near the site of the train derailment.
Officials at first repeatedly claimed the air quality and drinking water did not pose threats but, finally, Governor Mike DeWine announced on Friday that a creek near East Palestine is still "severely contaminated." He noted it will take time to remediate the situation. Meanwhile, the Biden administration announced it would deploy a team of toxicologists to the site.
Nadine Lucie Straile does not live in East Palestine but began to experience a horrible headache and burning of the skin after she ate dinner at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant near the site of the controlled release on February 7.
"That night my eye's started burning like never before and then a horrible headache came on," Straile told Sputnik. "My lips, tongue and throat, nasals were burning... a day later I started tingling all over my body."
Her neighbors, who live some 20 miles from where the controlled burn took place, are also experiencing symptoms, possibly because the wind spread the toxic chemicals further into the region, she added.
"This was not a neuropathy tingling. A different type, even my breast. My neighbors are experiencing some of the same symptoms," Straile said. "My blood pressure went sky high, probably from the pain, the ER [Emergency Room] said."
Heather Ann, who lives about four miles from East Palestine, also experienced headaches, burning skin sensation, difficulty breathing and sinus issues in the wake of the incident.
"The smell is gone now but it was noticeable the week it happened and the air felt difficult to breathe. My dog was also coughing the day it happened," she said.
Heather Ann said she does not feel confident in what officials are saying about air and water quality being deemed safe weeks after the incident took place.
"They only evacuated 1 mile and then two miles out but we are four miles away and had symptoms," she added. "I don’t understand why they didn’t evacuate a further radius. Or why they are saying it’s all safe. I noticed the water in town no longer looks as clean and had a strange film on top."
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