With the potential to kill, vinyl chloride is a colorless gas that can cause humans to contract respiratory issues, skin irritation, reproductive damage, frostbite, and even cancer. 

Inhabitants of East Palestine, Ohio were met with this highly-toxic chemical on Feb. 3, 2023, when a Norfolk Southern Railroad train derailed and released 1.1 million pounds of hazardous materials into the atmosphere. 

Additional information was revealed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who found that ethylene glycol, monobutyl ether, isobutylene, and ethylhexyl acrylate were also among the chemicals spread.

People contended that the Trump administration’s decision of rescinding the Obama braking system, was at fault for being unable to prevent the derailment.

The administration  repealed “provisions requiring rail cars carrying hazardous flammable materials to be equipped with electronic braking systems to stop trains more quickly than conventional air brakes.”

This enabled the crash, which ultimately raised major health and safety concerns for the 4,800 residents of East Palestine, Ohio and people surrounding the area.

Since the accident, Lisa Fulton, an East Palestine homeowner said, “I’ve had a sore throat and some tightness in my chest. And I’ve been wheezing because I have asthma.”

One resident was also hospitalized for bronchitis due to chemical fumes from the incident.

“They gave me a breathing machine. They put me on oxygen. They gave me three types of steroids,” said Melissa Blake, East Palestine resident.

The toxic material also spread to local waterways and harmed the environment. 

According to ABC News, “An estimated 3,500 fish, such as minnows, darters and sculpin, have died in creeks and rivers around the area.” 

Additionally, about 1.5 million gallons of contaminated water were also found around the derailment site.

In order to address this issue and eliminate the toxic gas, The Biden administration and the EPA, “released the vinyl chloride from the derailed cars into a trench, where they burned it off in a controlled explosion.” 

Norfolk Southern also negotiated to reimburse each inhabitant with $1,000 for the disturbance.

Furthermore, Mike Dewine, the Ohio Gov., reassured residents by stating the, “Ohio EPA is overseeing the installation of water monitoring wells that will be installed at the site of the train derailment.”

Despite this, many people are still unsure about the safety of their location.

According to ABC News Ashley McCollum, an East Palestine homeowner, said that, “she and her children are too afraid to return home. They don’t know what chemicals made their way inside their home, or which objects are contaminated.”

Overall, East Palestine residents hope to gain concrete answers and accurate information regarding the East Palestine chemical spill.