Ohio Train Derailment Causes Health Issues For Many

In the wake of a February 2023 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials near East Palestine, Ohio, legislators from both sides of the aisle are pushing for the Transportation Department to implement stricter regulations. 

Medical professionals have discovered that several people living in the area have been exposed to toxic chemicals. Many of these individuals are displaying symptoms for illnesses such as bronchitis, skin rashes, and other respiratory health issues. 

Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown, together with Senator J.D. Vance, Republican, both of Ohio, are seeking to put in place stricter regulations on notification and inspection for trains carrying hazardous materials, as well as substantial fines for rail carriers that don't comply with safety regulations. Furthermore, both have proposed $27 million for research on safety measures.

The legislative effort mandates that rail carriers must give state emergency response personnel prior warning of materials they are transporting. The bill would also make it possible to sanction $22 million for the Federal Railroad Administration to research and come up with tank car safety features that are more secure than existing features.

“Through this legislation, Congress has a real opportunity to ensure that what happened in East Palestine will never happen again,” Senator Vance said in a statement. “We owe every American the peace of mind that their community is protected from a catastrophe of this kind.”

Approximately a month ago, the train derailed, and five out of 10 workers at CeramFab, the manufacturing company nearby, have fallen ill. Dizziness, headache, nausea, throat and nose irritation, skin rashes and itchy, watery or burning eyes are all common signs of chemical exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Melissa Blake, an Ohio resident living within a mile of the incident's location, told NBC News that two days after the train derailment, she began coughing up gray mucus and had difficulty breathing. After a visit to the emergency room, acute bronchitis, caused by chemical fumes, was quickly determined. This was likely due to being exposed to hazardous chemicals from the train’s derailment.

Though officials still do not have a complete grasp on the extent of the damage caused by the derailed train, lives are being impacted daily.