Fears linger over toxic train crash

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — More than two weeks after a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in the eastern Ohio village of East Palestine and sparked a blaze, serious health concerns remain as nearby residents continue to complain of lingering headaches and irritated eyes.

Despite repeated assurances that air and water testing has shown no signs of contaminants, some people around East Palestine, along the Pennsylvania state line, are still skeptical and afraid of returning to their homes.

The state plans to open a medical clinic in the village this week to evaluate those who are worried and analyze their symptoms, said Mike DeWine, the Ohio governor. The clinic will include a team of experts in chemical exposures.

"These are very legitimate questions, and residents deserve an answer," DeWine said.

Nick Patrone, who lives about 6 kilometers from the village, said he feels sure there is an irritant in the air. "You feel it," he said. "A lot of my friends have children who have rashes that are unexplained all over their bodies. They have sore throats, they have congestion, they have ear irritation."

Hundreds of residents showed up at a public meeting at a high school on Wednesday to voice concerns and demand answers from state and local leaders and the railroad operator Norfolk Southern. However, representatives of the company failed to attend, saying they were worried about physical threats.

Residents who returned to their homes after the evacuation order was lifted on Feb 8 have reported burning eyes, sick pets and dead fish in waterways, prompting questions on how the accident was handled and its impact.

"Why are people getting sick if there's nothing in the air or the water?" one woman asked. Another resident said: "This could've happened to thousands of communities just like ours. We're just trying to figure it out. We just want answers."

Thirty-eight rail cars derailed in the disaster on Feb 3, and an additional 12 cars were damaged by fire, according to the US National Transportation Safety Board.

Fear of a possible explosion prompted hundreds of residents to evacuate, as a chlorine odor lingered. Emergency crews managed a series of detonations to release the chemical, discharging toxic and potentially deadly plumes of smoke.

On Thursday the White House said residents of East Palestine should be concerned over the derailment's impact. DeWine also said that he had spoken with Washington about seeking federal assistance.

Norfolk Southern faces at least four class action lawsuits that allege negligence over the crash. Five lawsuits have already been filed against the company, and lawyers have been showing up in the area to offer residents advice and legal options.

Complaints heard

In addition to health concerns, residents have complained about finding their cars covered in soot and their homes filled with overpowering odors.

The chemicals also spilled into nearby creeks, killing thousands of fish, and a smaller number eventually made its way into the Ohio River. While environmental officials said the contaminant amounts in the river were low enough that they did not pose a threat, cities in Ohio and West Virginia that get their drinking water from the river had been monitoring a slow-moving plume and a few temporarily switched to alternative water sources.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week that the train disaster serves as a stark reminder about the dangers of shipping toxic materials through US communities.

"What we witnessed in Ohio could certainly happen again. On average, there are more than 1,700 train derailments per year in the United States," the report said. "There's no way around it: The abundance of trains shipping toxic and hazardous substances across the country poses a serious threat to public safety and the environment."

Agencies - Xinhua