No levels of concern detected in the air after train derailment in Ohio (USA), says EPA

On February 3, a Norfolk Southern company train with almost 50 wagons derailed in the city of East Palestine (Ohio), ten of these had chemicals such as vinyl chloride.

The event occurred around 9:00 p.m. and caused the evacuation of the entire area since a fire broke out and environmental contamination was feared. In total, about 5,000 people were evacuated.

Three days after the fire, authorities conducted a controlled release of the remaining chemicals.

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In accordance with CNNemergency workers vented tankers to spill the vinyl chloride into a trench and burn it so it wouldn’t explode and affect a mile away.

Days later, the evacuation order for residents was finally lifted, according to the portal.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted air assessments in the area. Through his social networks, he specified that until February 12, 291 homes were examined and no vinyl or hydrogen chloride was identified. There were still 181 houses to be examined.

“At this time, the EPA has not detected any level of concern in the community that can be attributed to the incident,” he said.

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Similarly, they are seeking to determine the impact that the spill has had on surface and groundwater in the Ohio River, for which reason samples are being taken at strategic locations.

Vinyl chloride is a gas with a mild and sweet aroma that burns easily and is unstable at high temperatures. It is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that is used in plastic products such as pipes, cable coatings, among others.

“Vinyl chloride in the air breaks down in a few days into other substances, some of which can be harmful,” specified the Agency for Toxic Substances and the United States Registry of Diseases. (YO)