'America’s Chernobyl': Ohio toxic train derailment leaves people sick & 3500 fish dead

The Ohio toxic train derailment has left the people of the region sick along with their pets.

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After days of neglect, officials in East Palestine, Ohio, are opening a health clinic for residents after a train accident sparked health fears in the region. The Ohio toxic train derailment has left the people of the region sick along with their pets. For the unversed, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in the midwestern town on 3rd February 2023 releasing toxic chemicals into the air. Ever since then, residents have reported headaches, nausea, burning eyes, and sore throats. After the toxic train derailment, Ohio Department of Natural Resources informed that about 3,500 fish died off in the nearby creeks after the accident. However, US media quoted locals saying that they reported sick pets and dying chickens. Not only this, others have spoken of experiencing psychological trauma. The state of Ohio and midwestern town are indeed 'sickening' and the people on social media are calling the Ohio train derailment 'America's Chernobyl'. For the unaware, the Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the No. 4 reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the city of Pripyat in the north of the Ukrainian SSR in the Soviet Union.

However, the Ohio train toxic train derailment is no Chernobyl. The reason being the train that was derailed was carrying vinyl chloride among other chemicals. As per reports, among the chemicals released in the incident was vinyl chloride, a colourless, hazardous gas that is used to make PVC plastic and vinyl products. It is also a known carcinogen. Acute exposure is linked to dizziness, drowsiness and headaches, while prolonged exposure can cause liver damage and a rare form of liver cancer.

Why the people of the region are angry and what the government is doing?

Representatives from the train company Norfolk Southern did not attend a town hall meeting last week, where they had been scheduled to answer residents' questions. The company said it was concerned for the safety of its representatives. Congressman Bill Johnson faced the seething crowd. He said, "If you've got ailments and conditions that you did not have before 3 February, go to your doctor."

Now, with increasing anger and health issues among residents, officials in East Palestine, Ohio, are opening a health clinic for residents after a train accident sparked health fears. Ohio Department of Health director Bruce Vanderhoff said he encouraged anyone with medical concerns or questions to attend the clinic, which opens on Tuesday. "I heard you, the state heard you, and now the Ohio Department of Health and many of our partner agencies are providing this clinic, where people can come and discuss these vital issues with medical providers," Bruce Vanderhoff said in a statement as reported by a US media.

The people on social media are slamming the government for neglecting their health issued in the aftermath of the Ohio train derailment.

Here's what people are saying-

Ohio toxic train derailment: Health clinic to open after residents complain of several health issues

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