“IT’S LIKE A HORROR MOVIE IN OUR BACKYARD”
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A TOXIC SPILL UPENDS LIFE IN A SMALL OHIO TOWN

Jeremy Coblentz of Hadley, Pennsylvania inspects the wreckage of the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio and unleashed toxic chemicals on Sunday February 19, 2023. The derailment on February 3rd caused toxic chemicals to be released that were then burned unleashing a toxic cloud that caused some residents to be evacuated from the town. As many residents return to their homes questions linger about the long term health effects of chemical exposure and speculation at what many residents consider a delayed response to the environmental disaster.

On the evening of February 3rd, 2023, an eastbound Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed and crashed in the small eastern Ohio town of East Palestine. Among the hazardous materials being transported was Vinyl Chloride, a carcinogenic chemical used to make PVC pipe and plastics. Immediately following the crash, chemicals began leaking from the tankers into the small waterways on the tracks, Sulphur Run and Leslie Run, prompting emergency personnel to conduct a controlled burn of the remaining toxic chemicals. The burn however created a massive plume of toxic smoke that released Phosgene and Hydrogen Chloride into the air, prompting the issue of a state of emergency and a mandatory evacuation of residents within a 1 mile radius of the crash site.

Soon after the evacuation residents began reporting health issues. Symptoms including headaches, bloody noses, difficulty breathing, among others were reported and consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals. In the waterways contaminated by the leaking chemicals, all aquatic life died off, the water ways filled with dead fish, frogs, and crayfish. More worrying than the immediate symptoms, residents of East Palestine feared the longterm effects of exposure to the carcinogenic chemicals and contamination of the groundwater. The EPA placed air monitors throughout the city, tracking the airborn polutants, and began to test ground water and monitor the air quality in resident’s homes.

As anger grew within the community, politicians stepped in, many assuring the residents that there was no danger, however as illenesses persisted distrust grew and remains in the community. The disaster marks one of the costliest train derailments, an spurred nationwide fears of similar events occuring. Clean up operations continue in East Palestine, with some residents moving away, and others remaining behind without the means to leave.

“It’s like a horror movie, it’s hard to believe something like this would happen here.” One resident commented.

The story of East Palestine is one that will continue for years to come, as the longterm effects of the accident and chemical leak are yet to be seen.

Contractors with Norfolk Southern work to pump and purify water from Sulphur run near a makeshift dam downstream of the crash site in East Palestine on Saturday, February 18, 2023. The derailment of a freight train carrying hazardous materials resulted in the release and subsequent burning of toxic chemicals including Vinyl Chloride, a carcinogenic compound used in manufacturing hard plastics. Water samples taken shortly after the accident revealed toxic substances in local waterways of Sulphur Run and Leslie Run, contractors with Norfolk Southern have worked to clean and purify the water using aeration and portable dams. Despite community concerns, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated that the municipal water was safe to consume once again.

Senator Sherrod Brown during a tour of the impacted Sulphur Run creek in East Palestine, Ohio, US, on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. Nearly two weeks after a train carrying carcinogenic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, the extent of the damage to the nearby community is still unclear.

Members of the Environmental Protection Agency take samples of water from Sulphur Run near the rail road tracks in East Palestine, Ohio on Thursday, February 23, 2022. Chemicals from a Norfolk Southern freight train spilled into water ways after it derailed and caught fire on February 3. The EPA and contractors from Norfolk Southern continue to test local water sources including Sulphur Run and Leslie Run for toxic chemicals.

An Environmental Protection Agency air monitoring device is secured to a fence on East Martin Street which runs parallel to the Norfolk Southern train crash site in East Palestine, Ohio on Friday, February 17, 2023. The EPA has placed air monitoring devices throughout the community to test the air quality and detect any lingering toxins in the air that may be harmful to humans. In addition too air testing, the soil and waterways are being tested as well around the community.

Charlie Hutchens poses for a portrait at his home in East Palestine on Saturday, February 18, 2023. Charlie was one of hundreds off residents on the Eastern side of town who were forced to evacuate after a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed and chemicals were detected in the area surrounding the crash. In the aftermath Hutchen's air and soil was tested and showed no hazardous materials present.

Charlie Hutchens shows the test result papers following having the soil and the air at his home tested by the EPA in East Palestine on Saturday, February 19, 2023. Charlie was one of hundreds off residents on the Eastern side of town who were forced to evacuate after a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed and chemicals were detected in the area surrounding the crash. In the aftermath, Hutchen's air and soil were tested and showed no hazardous materials present.

Brenda Foster poses for a portrait in her backyard that sits up against the rail road tracks at her home on East Clark Street in East Powell, Ohio on Saturday, February 18, 2023. Foster was one of hundreds of East Palestine residents evacuated from her home following the derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train on February 3. Following the derailment, toxic chemicals such as Vinyl Chloride, were emptied from several tanks and burned resulting in a large smoke plume. Brenda Foster, whose backyard extends to the railroad tracks near the crash, has reported experiencing headaches and a sore throat, and states that her basement still smells like chemicals despite being told it was safe to return to her home.

Nicole Bentel shows a screen grab of the smoke plume that resulted from the controlled burn of toxic chemicals such as Vinyl Chloride after the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train on the outskirts of East Palestine, Ohio while they stay at their hotel in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania on Saturday, February 18, 2023.Their home is circled in blue on the left hand side of the screen. The couple and their 4 children have been staying in hotels since evacuating from their home in East Palestine following the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals on February 3. After the remaining toxic cargo of Vinyl Chloride was burned in a controlled burn, hundreds of residents were evacuated, only to be told a few days later that it was safe to return. Chris and Nicole do not trust the evaluation that East Palestine is safe to return to, however, decided to return on Sunday because Chris has to return to his work.

US Secretery of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg speaks to members of the press during a press conference at the site of the train derailment on February 23rd, 2023. Local, state, and national politicians descended on East Palestine after the derailment became headline news across the nation.

Mayor Trent Conaway poses for a portrait in his office on Friday, February 17, 2023, in East Palestine, Ohio. Conaway has worked with the EPA and Norfolk Southern to test for toxic substances in the air, soil, and ground water, as well as with the clean up of wreckage following the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals.

Residents of East Palestine, Ohio line up to receive checks for $1000 as 'inconvenience' compensation from representatives from Norfolk Southern Railway on Friday, February 17, 2023 at the Abundant Life Fellowship church in New Waterford, Ohio. The checks are meant to compensate residents affected by the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train that released toxic chemicals on February 3rd and forced some residents to evacuate the town.

A note stating the closure of a shop on North Mark Street in East Palestine, Ohio on Friday, February 17, 2023. On February 3 a Norfolk Southern train derailed while carrying several cars containing toxic materials including Vinyl Phosphate. Following the derailment and fire, the remaining containers carrying Vinyl Chloride, a carcinogenic chemical used in manufacturing plastics, were emptied and the contents burned, producing a massive smoke plume. Hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes, and toxic levels of phosgene, vinyl chloride, and other chemicals were found in the area around the crash.

Packs of bottled water stacked in an East Palestine resident's home on Saturday, February 18, 2023. Following the derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train which was carrying toxic chemicals, hundreds of residents were evacuated as the remaining cars carrying Vinyl Chloride were destroyed in a controlled burn that created a massive smoke plume. Once residents were able to return home state offficials and the EPA urged them to consume bottled water until tests could verify that no toxic substances could be found in the drinking water or air.

A clean up crew worker walks down East Taggart Street during clean up operations near the derailed train in East Palestine, Ohio, US, on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023. Nearly two weeks after a train carrying carcinogenic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, the extent of the damage to the nearby community is still unclear.

The bodies of aquatic animals decompose in Leslie Run, on the outskirts of East Palestine, Ohio on Monday, February 20, 2023 following the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic substances that leaked and were subsequently burned. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated on Friday that municipal water was now safe to drink, however many residents still worry about chemicals seeping into the ground water and into private wells. Among the chemicals that were leaked was Vinyl Chloride, a carcinogenic and toxic chemical used in the production of some plastics such as PVC pipe and Credit Cards, while the EPA states no Vinyl Chloride has been found in samples taken from private wells, the chemical may take an extended period of time to reach the wells before it can be detected.

Chris Whittenberger and his partner Nicole Bentel pose for a portrait in their hotel room in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania on Saturday, February 18, 2023. The couple and their children have been staying in hotels since evacuating from their home in East Palestine following the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals on February 3. After the remaining toxic cargo of Vinyl Chloride was burned in a controlled burn, hundreds of residents were evacuated, only to be told a few days later that it was safe to return. Chris and Nicole do not trust the evaluation that East Palestine is safe to return to, however decided to return on Sunday because Chris has to return to his work.

The remnants of a train car near the backyard of William Hugar's home on Taggart Street 200 yards from the site of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio on February 19, 2023. Hundreds of residents were evacuated and businesses along North Market Street were closed after a Norfolk Southern train was derailed on the outskirts of town and toxic chemicals including Vinyl Chloride were released into the water and air on February 3.

Local residents gathered at the high school for a prayer circle in East Palestine, Ohio on Thursday, February 23, 2022. Residents were forced to evacuate East Palestine following the derailment and subsequent chemical spill and fire after a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed on February 3.

A man walks across the train tracks that run through East Palestine, Ohio on Friday, February 17, 2023. On February 3 a Norfolk Southern train derailed while carrying several cars containing toxic materials including Vinyl Phosphate. Following the derailment and fire, the remaining containers carrying Vinyl Chloride, a carcinogenic chemical used in manufacturing plastics, were emptied and the contents burned, producing a massive smoke plume. Hundreds of residents were evacuated from their home, and toxic levels of phosgene, vinyl chloride, and other chemicals were found in the area around the crash.