www.WashingtonPost.com
A train derailment spilled toxic chemicals into East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3rd, 2023. Local Officials informed East Palestine residents on February 14th, eleven days later, to use bottled water until testing could confirm that the local water supply is safe to drink. Water officials are tracking a large plume of contamination flowing down the Ohio River. Nearly 3,500 fish in local waterways have been killed due to the chemical release. Cleanup crews are excavating a “grossly contaminated” 1,000-foot area around the train tracks where butyl acrylate puddled and vinyl chloride burned.
Some residents have decided to leave due to the concern of contamination in the water supply, the strong odor of chemicals, and the limited information they have been given about their potential exposure to toxic chemicals.