4 things to know about the Ohio train derailment, burning toxic chemicals

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, February 14, 2023

2. A controlled release of chemicals was carried out to avert an explosion

On Feb. 6, the Office of Ohio’s Republican Gov. Mike DeWine released a statement informing residents that “the vinyl chloride contents of five rail cars are currently unstable and could potentially explode, causing deadly disbursement of shrapnel and toxic fumes.” The governor’s office cited the “risk of uncontrollable shrapnel” from such an explosion as a reason why Norfolk Southern had elected to conduct a “controlled release” of the vinyl chloride that afternoon.

DeWine elaborated on the dangers posed by the controlled release, which involve “the burning of the rail cars’ chemicals, which will release fumes into the air that can be deadly if inhaled.” He expressed concern that “based on the current weather patterns and the expected flow of the smoke and fumes,” those in the immediate vicinity of the accident site would find themselves in “grave danger of death” while those in a slightly larger radius could face “severe injury, including skin burns and serious lung damage.”

Two days later, DeWine’s office issued a notice informing residents of the affected areas of East Palestine that they could safely return home because “air quality samples in the area of the wreckage and in nearby residential neighborhoods have consistently showed readings at points below safety screening levels for contaminants of concern.”