Chemical decontamination begins in East Palestine: what to expect

East Palestine, Ohio — When a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine two weeks ago, it released several chemicals, including vinyl chloride, creating a giant black cloud In controlled release.

In addition, butyl acrylate and ethylhexyl acrylate, which are used in paints, plastics, and adhesives, were spilled onto the ground and into streams. These chemicals can cause breathing problems.

The question is whether they penetrate the well.

“Fast volatile chemicals have less of a chance to reach groundwater, having to traverse 30 feet of dirt, sand, and gravel to reach the water table, which is actually much less likely.” Rob Darner, a groundwater expert at the Geological Survey, said:

Solon Fire Chief Mark Vedder is also Director of the Chagrin/Southeast Hazardous Materials Response Team. Neither he nor Darner participated in the East Palestinian response, but Vedder said that residents of East Palestine can at least expect the cleanup to last two months.

Federal health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will arrive in town on Saturday to begin assessing the health of residents.

Vedder said those evaluations could potentially last for decades, depending on what was found in the decontamination and how well the chemicals have penetrated the soil.

Environmental remediation specialists begin digging up layers of contaminated soil and checking for chemicals as they pass through each layer.

In addition to the federal response, The Ohio Department of Health plans to open a clinic in Eastern Palestine next week Engage with residents, answer questions, assess symptoms, and provide medical expertise.

“We know the science shows that Eastern Palestine is safe, but we also know that the population is very concerned.” Gov. Mike DeWine said on Friday. “They ask themselves, ‘Is my headache just a headache?’ Or is it the result of a chemical spill? Are other medical conditions caused by the spill? It’s a question and residents deserve an answer.”

In collaboration with the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio EPA, and the US EPA, The HHS team will begin seeing patients early next week. The team includes national experts on the effects of exposure to chemicals.

The location and time of the clinic will be announced on the day. ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine when this information becomes available.

Ohio’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services also assists county alcohol, drug, and mental health boards to ensure residents know what resources are available.

In addition to local resources, the Ohio Careline (1-800-720-9616) is open 24 hours a day and has trained mental health professionals standing by, listening and helping. All calls are free and confidential. You can also connect to local resources if you need follow-up care.