Ohio Train Derailment Could Bring Cancer Risk, Millions in Damage
- Chemical spill involved carcinogen tied to liver, lung cancer
- Norfolk Southern CEO promised to pay for thorough cleanup
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Nearly two weeks after a train carrying carcinogenic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, the extent of the damage to the nearby community is still unclear. Railroads face a traffic backlog and operator Norfolk Southern Corp. could rack up tens of millions of dollars in costs.
Though residents have been allowed to return to their homes, many remain concerned about the long-term environmental effects of the Feb. 3 accident. Some of them watched from a distance as a fiery cloud blazed above the wreckage after Norfolk Southern, in conjunction with authorities, decided to intentionally vent and burn some of the railcars to avoid a potential explosion.