A man takes photos as a black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern train, Feb. 6, 2023. After toxic chemicals were released into the air from a wrecked train in Ohio, evacuated residents remain in the dark about what toxic substances are lingering in their vacated neighborhoods while they await approval to return home. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Most Americans don’t believe the government has properly handled the cleanup in East Palestine, according to a recent study.

A Norfolk Southern train derailed in the small Eastern Ohio village on February 3, igniting a chain of events that ended in a controlled burn of the train’s toxic load of chemicals, mainly vinyl chloride.

The plume of thick black smoke soared above homes and waterways, painting a dark picture for the weeks to come. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quickly took over managing the cleanup from Norfolk Southern, promising to hold the multi-billion dollar rail giant accountable for the disaster, but most Americans don’t believe the government has handled the fallout in East Palestine to this day.

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The study

Researchers at WaterFilterGuru.com surveyed 503 Americans and 343 additional Ohioans about the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Of the 846 respondents, 83% do not believe the government has taken appropriate measures to clean up the spill and prevent future incidents. And 65% of Americans do not believe the government reports saying the water and air in the East Palestine area are safe. The chemicals emanating from the controlled burn in East Palestine included butyl acrylate, vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and ethylhexyl acrylate. The chemicals are used in industrial processes including the production of lacquers, enamels, inks, adhesives, paint thinners and industrial cleaners, and plastic manufacturing. The colorless vinyl chloride has been associated with an increased risk of liver cancer and other cancers, according to the federal government’s National Cancer Institute.

Of the Ohioans who participated in the survey, 97% are concerned about the long-term environmental impacts of the spill, and 19% have started only drinking bottled water as a result of the incident.

Impact in Cincinnati

The waterways in East Palestine feed into the Ohio River, which raised major concern for Cincinnati residents when Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) said the department had detected butyl acrylate in the water upstream. The chemical’s presence in the water was so low that it wasn’t considered harmful to drink, but GCWW closed the river’s intake and performed rigorous testing anyway.

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In East Palestine, the first publicly released water quality data report found no dangerous contaminants in the village’s drinking water. Still, only 2% of Ohio parents who responded to the study said they would let their children bathe in East Palestine’s tap water.

On Monday, March 27, EPA Inspector General Sean O’Donnell announced in a memo that he has launched a formal inquiry into the agency’s handling of the East Palestine cleanup. The inquiry will include interviews, data collection, and analysis of hazardous waste disposal, air and water monitoring, soil and sediment sampling, and risk communication.

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This article appears in Mar 22 – Apr 4, 2023.