WASHINGTON, D.C. – It’s been a little more than two years since the East Palestine, OH train derailment on the Pennsylvania – Ohio border. The train, which was carrying hazardous materials, put a national spotlight on rail safety. At the Capitol, there is new legislation that aims to address the health impacts of the derailment.
The February 2023 derailment caused mass anxiety in the East Palestine community. A plume of smoke from a fire triggered by the crash loomed over the community and officials evacuated people from their homes.
A handful of the cars contained hazardous materials like vinyl chloride, which is used to make plastic and vinyl products. The EPA said high levels of exposure to vinyl chloride can make people lose consciousness, and cause lung and kidney irritations among other health concerns.
Initial findings showed the water was heavily contaminated and some of the soil might have been contaminated by smoke particles from the fire and subsequent vent and burn. Officials have worked ever since to clean up the mess and check for contamination, including installing new drinking water filter systems, cleaning the streams and checking soil samples, just to name a few.
The derailment, and its aftermath, has caused panic about the health impacts for those who live nearby.
“I think if you live there or live in that vicinity, it’s the aftermath, it’s the long-range effect of what it’s going to do to the people that live there,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R- PA). “And should they be concerned? Absolutely they should be concerned and I think if we don’t say look we’re going to make a commitment and stay with you and go forward with you and continue to do studies, continue to do oversight- whatever happened on that day – which it may be cleaned up now, but the aftermath is serious.”
Rep. Kelly is co-sponsoring legislation to authorize funding for a study of the long-term health impacts caused by the derailment. That health study would be conducted through 2029. He said locals in that area just want to have peace of mind knowing they can live in that community, safely.
“One thing we can do is reassure people we haven’t walked away from the incident,” said Rep. Kelly. “We have a long-term commitment to those folks that we represent. We’re not gonna forget about it. We’re gonna continue to monitor it and make sure that where you live is healthy.”
