UC Davis

Train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio: The toxic risks of transporting hazardous chemicals: The toxic risks of vinyl chloride have been debated for years, but a recent train derailment in the US brought this debate into the public eye, say Jessie R Badley, Caleb Ryce and Pamela J Lein. Three days after the 3 February 2023 derailment of a 50-car freight train in East Palestine, Ohio, emergency crews from Norfolk Southern, the chemical transportation company, made the decision to vent and burn toxic vinyl chloride from five tank cars to prevent an explosion. A black mushroom plume of toxic gas that could be seen for miles engulfed the town. The subsequent death of more than 43,000 aquatic animals living in the vicinity of East Palestine during the month after the controlled release prompted public concerns about drinking water and air contamination in not only East Palestine but also neighbouring communities since the East Palestine watershed empties into the Ohio River, which is a primary source of water for many municipalities.