An Update On The Ohio Train Derailment

On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment occurred in East Palestine, Ohio, where five of the 38 derailed cars contained toxic chemicals known as vinyl chloride. When inhaled, this gas can result in headaches, tiredness, dizziness, and, with prolonged exposure, a rare form of liver cancer.

Moreover, these chemicals triggered an enormous fire which produced thick smoke, leading to the immediate order of an evacuation that was later cancelled on February 8, 2023. East Palestine residents are still experiencing rashes, sore throats, nausea, and headaches, and 3,500 dead fish have been found in nearby waterways; though, experts state that the toxins have dissipated from the water in the weeks following. The EPA mandated the East Palestine railway derailment cleanup on February 21, 2023, and Norfolk Southern has committed to finishing it by April 30, 2023.

This news is relevant to Ontarians because the crash site is about 380 km south of Niagara Falls. However, Laura Deakin ("a lecturer at the University of Waterloo’s chemistry department") stated to CTV news that “While the toxins could travel in the air towards [southern Ontario], they should have little effect on people locally.” Furthermore, the Canadian government says it’s “monitoring” environmental indicators in Ontario.