How Serious Was the Ohio Chemical Train Accident?

Residents in East Palestine, Ohio, remain concerned about lingering headaches and the stench of chemicals after a fiery train derailment. This has sparked anxiety over air and water quality, compounded by misinformation circulating on social media.

At a news briefing on February 14, 2023, state officials shared more specifics about the ongoing cleanup efforts and provided a timeline for addressing the environmental disaster. Nearly twelve cars, some carrying dangerous chemicals like vinyl chloride, which is a carcinogen, derailed on the night of February 3rd. The resulting fire produced thick black smoke. Officials revealed that over 400 nearby homes had been tested for contamination, and they were monitoring a chemical plume that had led to the death of 3,500 fish in local streams and the Ohio River.

The delayed release of information following the derailment has raised numerous questions regarding the potential risks and long-term consequences. We spoke with Andrew Whelton, an environmental engineer specializing in chemical risks during disasters, to get his perspective on the chemical spill. Here’s what he shared.

What do we know about the chemicals on the train, and what are the biggest concerns you have?

Currently, the major concern revolves around the contamination of homes, soil, and water, primarily due to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs).

The train was carrying nearly a dozen cars with vinyl chloride and other substances like ethylhexyl acrylate and butyl acrylate. These chemicals vary in toxicity and behave differently in soil and groundwater. Some of these substances have been found in nearby waterways, and particulate matter from the fire has been detected in the air. However, the ultimate fate of many of these chemicals remains unclear. Additionally, other chemicals were released, but there has been limited discussion about those substances.

State officials revealed that a contamination plume released into a nearby creek had reached the Ohio River. Cities downstream, which rely on the river for drinking water, were alerted to the potential risks. As the plume travels further downstream, the concentration of chemicals in the water decreases, reducing the risk to these areas.

In the long run, the highest risk is posed to areas nearest to the derailment site. Once again, there's a lack of clarity about the chemicals involved — or those that might have been created due to chemical reactions during the fire.

It remains unclear how much of the chemicals were diverted into storm drains, flushed into streams, or settled at the bottoms of water bodies.

A significant amount of combusted particulate matter was also released. The dense black smoke is a clear indicator of this. However, it's uncertain how much was dispersed in the air or deposited on the ground.

How long can these chemicals persist in the soil and water?

Heavier chemicals typically degrade more slowly and are more likely to adhere to soil. These substances can remain for years if not properly addressed.

Following the Kalamazoo River oil pipeline rupture in Michigan in 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency dug up a tributary where the oil had settled. Similar oil spills in Alaska and Alabama have demonstrated that oil-based chemicals can infiltrate soil if not properly addressed.

The long-term consequences in Ohio will largely depend on how quickly and effectively the cleanup is carried out.

If the heavily contaminated soils and liquids are excavated and removed promptly, the long-term effects can be mitigated. However, the longer the cleanup takes, the further the contamination may spread. It's crucial to address this as quickly as possible, particularly before rain complicates the situation.

Booms have been placed in a nearby stream to capture the chemicals, while air-stripping devices are being used to extract chemicals from the water. Air stripping works by causing the lighter chemicals to leave the water and enter the air. This method is commonly used, as seen after the 2015 oil spill in the Yellowstone River near Glendive, Montana.

At the Ohio derailment site, crews have already begun removing contaminated soil up to a depth of 7 feet (2 meters) in the area where the rail cars burned.

What does the thick, black smoke indicate about the chemicals that were set on fire?

Incineration is one method of disposing hazardous chemicals, but incomplete chemical breakdown results in various byproducts. When chemicals are exposed to extremely high temperatures, they burn completely, eliminating them.

The black smoke plume seen on TV indicates that combustion was incomplete. A range of other chemicals were likely created. However, officials won’t know exactly what these were or where they went until proper tests are conducted.

We are aware that ash can present health hazards, which is why we conduct testing inside homes after wildfires where structures are burned. This is also the reason the state's health director instructed residents with private wells located near and downwind of the derailment to rely on bottled water until their wells can be tested.

How do these chemicals enter buildings, and what happens to them in confined spaces?

Homes are not completely airtight, and dust, along with other particles, can make their way inside. This can happen through an open door, a crack in the window, or even when people bring it in from outside.

The U.S. EPA has not found significant levels of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride in the 400 homes it has tested so far. However, there has been a lack of full transparency, as just because testing is being conducted doesn't mean it's comprehensive or targeting all the necessary substances.

While media outlets discuss four or five chemicals, the train manifest from Norfolk Southern reveals that numerous other substances were stored in the tanks that burned. These substances could potentially release hundreds or even thousands of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs).

Are government officials testing for all the right substances?

Community members have shared reports of headaches, which can be linked to exposure to VOCs and other chemicals. It's understandable why residents are worried.

There needs to be more transparency from Ohio and federal authorities regarding their actions, the reasons behind them, and their future plans. At this point, it's unclear what specific questions they are attempting to answer. Given the seriousness of the situation, there has been insufficient information shared about the testing process.

When transparency is lacking, misinformation takes its place. For homeowners, understanding the real risks becomes challenging if the necessary data is not being disclosed.

Andrew J. Whelton holds a professorship in civil, environmental, and ecological engineering and is the director of both the Healthy Plumbing Consortium and the Center for Plumbing Safety at Purdue University. His work is supported by funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, the Water Research Foundation, and Purdue University.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can access the original article here.