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A small town in Ohio, just south of Lake Erie and approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) from the Canada-U.S. border, played host to a nightmarish scenario earlier this month when a train crashed and exploded, spewing toxic chemicals into the environment.

Days after crews released and burned toxic chemicals transported by a wrecked train in Ohio, residents remain in the dark about what toxic substances could be lingering in their evacuated neighborhoods.

About 50 cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed in a fiery crash Friday night in East Palestine, according to rail operator Norfolk Southern and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Residents who returned to the town of East Palestine after evacuation orders were lifted reported strange odors and dead animals, leaving some locals questioning if it truly is safe to return home. The Environmental Protection Agency maintains that the air and water around the crash site are safe.

But are they really safe? Here’s how TGP explained the danger brought by these chemicals:

Vinyl Chloride is a dangerous chemical that was released during a 2012 train derailment in New Jersey. According to a Westlake Chemical product summary description:

Vinyl Chloride is a known human carcinogen. Long-term overexposure to Vinyl Chloride in humans and laboratory animals has been known to cause angiosarcoma of the liver.

When exposed to open flames, open electrical elements, or electrical arcs, Vinyl Chloride liquid or vapor can decompose to form toxic and corrosive fumes. Depending on conditions, when Vinyl Chloride is exposed to high temperatures, heat, or ignition, hydrogen chloride gas, which is highly irritating to the nose and throat, as well as trace levels of phosgene gas, may be produced.

It is now being reported that there were more chemicals on board the train. The EPA has sent a letter to Norfolk Southern stating that ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate and isobutylene were found in the derailed cars as well.

In an interview with the local news station WKBN, one of the experts involved in hazardous materials explained: 

“We basically nuked a town with chemicals so we could get a railroad open,” said Silverado Caggiano, a hazardous materials specialist.

Caggiano says ethylhexyl acrylate is especially worrisome. He says it’s a carcinogen and contact with it can cause burning and irritation in the skin and eyes. Breathing it in can irritate the nose and throat and cause coughing and shortness of breath.

Isobutylene is also known to cause dizziness and drowsiness when inhaled.

According to TGP, residents are taking to Twitter and other social media to document their experiences with the “controlled release”:

Watch the video report below for more details:

Sources: TheGatewayPundit, WKBN

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