Ohio Train Derailments Create a Safety Panic

Chemical train derails in East Palestine, Ohio. While spokespeople claim that little to no chemicals have spread, people have given reports of being sick. 

On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern train holding toxic chemicals derailed as it was passing through East Palestine, OH. EPA Administrator Michael Regan assures locals that they do not need to worry because after testing; both the water and air quality is safe.

However, Deb Weese with QUICKMED disagrees with Regan’s assessment and says that the burning sensation that people are feeling when they are breathing is a form of ‘chemical bronchitis’. 

While different government officials are ensuring that people are being given help the people and journalists have questions that contradict that statement. During the 02/26/23: Joint Media Briefing on East Palestine Train Derailment Recovery Efforts a journalist noted that people claim they are being denied help. They then asked what is being done to directly help the people

Ohio EPA director and Vogel and FEMA 5 administrator Tom Sebach responded, “FEMA is here coordinating with our federal our federal local, and state agencies and we’re committed to ensuring that they have the information to feel safe again.” 

EPA Region 5 administrator Deborah Shore shared that some of the liquid waste will be going to Vickery, OH, and will be disposed of in an underground injection well and that Norfolk Southern will be shipping solid waste to the Heritage Incinerator in East Liverpool, OH. 

While the people of East Palestine, OH, are struggling; another train has derailed in Springfield, OH. Although there are no reports of hazardous chemical exposure people are beginning to question train safety protocols.