In Ohio, a train with chemicals derailed: a clinic will be opened at the scene of the accident for residents affected by toxins

The Governor of Ohio said that a chemical plume that spilled into the Ohio River after a train derailment with dangerous chemicals, dissipated and no longer causes concern. But concerns remain near the disaster site among residents who complain of lingering headaches and eye irritation. Writes about it APNews.

Photo: IStock

Despite repeated assurances that air and water tests showed no signs of contamination, some people in East Palestine, along the Pennsylvania border, remain skeptical and afraid to return to their homes.

The state plans to open a medical clinic early next week to screen those who are concerned and analyze their symptoms, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced. The clinic will include a team of chemical exposure experts who are sent to eastern Ohio.

"The residents deserve a response," DeWine said, stressing that checks inside and outside the homes found no sign of the toxins that were on the train.

“We are doing absolutely everything in our power to tell residents how things are,” he said. “I understand that people are traumatized. I understand the skepticism."

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Nick Patrone, who lives 4 miles (6,4 km) from East Palestine, is convinced that there is definitely an irritant in the air.

“You feel it,” he said. — Many of my friends have children with unexplained rashes all over their bodies. They have a sore throat, a stuffy nose, and irritated ears.”

Earlier this week, hundreds of people came to a public meeting to raise concerns and get answers not only from state and local leaders, but also from rail operator Norfolk Southern. However, representatives of the railway, concerned about physical threats, were not on it.

DeWine was upset by their no-show and said that Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw needed to go to East Palestine and answer people's questions.

At least five lawsuits were filed against the railroad, and lawyers showed up in the area to offer advice and legal options.

It has allready passed two weeks since a freight train carrying various hazardous chemicals derailedbut the stench of the spill did not go away. Since then, residents have complained that their cars are covered in soot, their homes are filled with unbearable odors, and their pets are sick or dying.

The chemicals also made their way into nearby streams, killing thousands of fish, and a small number ended up in the Ohio River.

While environmental officials said the amount of pollutants in the river was low enough to pose a threat, cities in Ohio and West Virginia that get their drinking water from the river monitored the slow moving plume and some of them temporarily crossed over. to alternative water sources.

According to DeWine, water samples on February 17 showed that the plume had completely disappeared.

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The governor said air tests in 500 homes showed no dangerous levels. Residents were allowed to return after the controlled release and burning of five tanker trucks filled with vinyl chloride, linked to an increased risk of certain cancers.

DeWine said the derailment was traumatic for the town of just under 5000 people. But he assured that "no one is trying to downplay anything."

Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff said the extensive air and water testing that has taken place over the past two weeks has been reassuring.

“We hired people from the very beginning who are national experts on what needs to be tested,” he said.

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