Each Palestine Residents Report Headaches, Sore Throats, and Fear

EAST PALESTINE, OHIO — Residents of this small town near the Pennsylvania border are being assured the air and water are safe, even as they experience headaches, sore throats, and other worrisome symptoms in the wake of a  train derailmentMassive chemical spillage and other serious consequences “controlled burn” These toxic substances can cause serious health problems.

All residents within one mile radius of the Feb. 3, derailment were evacuated by local and state authorities. started The controlled burning of industrial chemicals on the vehicle was done to reduce the possibility of an explosion. This could have been devastating for the small town. Vinyl chloride, which is a carcinogen used in the production of PVC, was released from five train cars last Wednesday as massive plumes visible throughout eastern Ohio, and western Pennsylvania.

“The worst part about the wreck site was the horrible smell,” observed Carter Andrews, a producer with The Daily Wire. “The chemically, stinging odor was so strong my eyes started watering. It lingered all throughout town.”

Workers try to remove chemical residues from the train’s derailment. Photo: The Daily Wire

Photographed by a drone, an aerial view shows the derailment. Photo: The Daily Wire

All of the residents that the team talked to reported similar symptoms. Despite numerous state and federal agencies insisting the water and air supply were adequate, there was no evidence of this. It has not been altered Residents and first responders to the train accident have also noted a persistent smell, oily chemical sheens in local rivers and creeks, sudden deaths of wildlife and livestock, as well as worrisome health consequences such sore throats or headaches.

DJ Yokley, an East Palestine business owner, was interviewed by The Daily Wire team. He noted that many of their neighbors depend on their livestock for their income. “This is a farm town, and there’s a lot of people whose livelihood depends on those animals that they sell for whatever reason. And if they’re tainted in any way, they’re done,” He said. “We were living the American dream that we worked so hard for, and now we’re living the American nightmare.”

Artificial barriers placed at the scene of the derailment are used to limit the flow chemical sludge. Photo: The Daily Wire

Polluted water from the ditch near the scene of the train derailment. (Photo: The Daily Wire).

Residents have been trying to find answers from the federal government and state officials alike, as well Norfolk Southern, who was at the centre of the incident. Although residents were not harmed, promised Officials changed the format of Wednesday’s town hall meeting to include representatives from different agencies. Norfolk Southern executive quit the event just hours before it was due to begin.

A Daily Wire team also witnessed cleanup work just half a mile from the train wreck.

“Crews seemed to be using a hose to suck the chemical film off the top of the water flowing through,” Andrews described. “We asked several questions but they refused to even acknowledge us.”

A worker tries to extract the chemical sheen of a creek that runs into downtown East Palestine at the site of the derailment (Photo by The Daily Wire).

A polluted creek near the site of the derailment (Photo: The Daily Wire).

Norfolk Southern is not only responsible for the vinyl chloride release, but also for its other initiatives. Beware The EPA stated that a variety of other hazardous chemicals were found at the site of the derailment. One train car that contains ethylene glycol monobutylether has been identified. “unknown status,” Norfolk Southern states that while the amount ethylhexylacrylate is still present in other cars, it is not enough to cause any harm. “pending.” Only after residents were informed they could return to home, did the EPA issue the full list.

“We just want answers and they’re not giving them,” reported Yokley. “What’s frustrating is the EPA tells us one thing and then two hours later it’s something different.”

Carter Andrews reported on East Palestine; Ben Zeisloft, Philadelphia. 

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