Jacob Fuller, FISM News
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that in addition to the massive load of potentially deadly vinyl chloride present on the train that derailed near New Palestine, Ohio on February 3, at least three other dangerous chemicals were on the train, further endangering people and animals in the area.
The EPA sent a letter to Norfolk Southern, the train’s operator, stating that ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, and isobutylene were also in the rail cars, according to a report by WKBN of Youngstown, Ohio.
“We basically nuked a town with chemicals so we could get a railroad open,” Sil Caggiano, a hazardous materials specialist told WKBN. “There’s a lot of what ifs, and we’re going to be looking at this thing 5, 10, 15, 20 years down the line and wondering, ‘Gee, cancer clusters could pop up, you know, well water could go bad,” Caggiano said.
MEDIA SILENCE
Most legacy media outlets have been strangely quiet on the situation, which could potentially become one of the worst environmental and humanitarian disasters in the nation’s history. Though local officials have maintained the stance that only those within a one-mile radius are in serious danger, others are reporting that the dangerous aftermath could spread throughout Ohio, as well as into eastern Pennsylvania and most of West Virginia.
One Tiktok user identified as “Nick Drom” posted a video explaining the situation. He said there could be close to a million pounds of toxic vinyl chloride spilling into the ground and the air. He also claimed that what the mainstream media, railroad company, and local government have called a success in “burning off” the chemicals is potentially creating a lethal situation with hundreds of thousands of pounds of hydrochloric acid in the air.
“When looking at these kinds of industrial disasters across time, there are a couple of things that are pretty universal across all of them,” Drom said. “One: the responsible party – in this case Norfolk Southern Railway – always plays down the reality of the situation. Politicians also just repeat the same lines, and then news outlets just repeat the same. So all we’re hearing is the responsible party’s word.”
The only thing worse than the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio is the near media blackout of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. https://t.co/iaGp1WMLyP
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) February 13, 2023
On February 5, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a warning and ordered an evacuation for anyone within a one-mile radius of the train derailment site due to the likelihood of an explosion.
Videos of the explosion have since gone viral, along with videos of dead wildlife in the area and reporters being arrested for attempting to report on the situation. U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) shared one of the videos, along with a comment on how the legacy media have ignored the story while reporting on unidentified flying objects instead. (NOTE- linked video has strong language)
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG SILENT
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg remained silent on the tragedy as of Monday morning, despite a public appearance televised on C-SPAN2. Rather than talk about what could be the greatest transportation disaster in United States history, Buttigieg spoke about the supposed issue of too many white construction workers.
Buttigieg made no mention of the Ohio train derailment while speaking at a conference this morning but did find the time to say that there are too many white people who work construction. pic.twitter.com/q4WNcq10h9
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 13, 2023
EXAMINING THE CHEMICALS
The National Cancer Institute describes vinyl chloride as a carcinogen and says it is linked to a form of liver cancer called hepatic angiosarcoma, as well as lymphoma, leukemia, and various forms of brain and lung cancers.
“If a water supply is contaminated, vinyl chloride can enter household air when the water is used for showering, cooking, or laundry,” the agency said.
Norfolk Southern currently lists one train car containing ethylene glycol monobutyl ether with an “unknown status.” Ethylene glycol monobutyl is a highly combustible liquid used to manufacture paints and varnish. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that ingestion or skin contact can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Norfolk Southern said there are “no signs” of a breach for the car containing isobutylene.
The amount of ethylhexyl acrylate, a combustible liquid used to make paints and plastics, spilled from yet another train car is “pending,” according to Norfolk Southern. The substance has been identified as a carcinogen, according to a report from the National Library of Medicine.
WEST VIRGINIA TAKES WATER PRECAUTIONS
Representatives from West Virginia American Water said on Sunday that the water treatment agency was enhancing its water treatment process as a precaution following the train derailment. The water utility is also going to install a secondary intake on the Guyandotte River in case there is a need to switch to an alternate water source.
The agency reported that they have not yet seen any change in their water supply.
This report was aided in part by reports by WKBN, The Daily Wire, and FOX News.