What the Ohio Train Derailment Says About the Dark Side of Plastics
The Norfolk Southern crash highlights the environmental and health dangers of the world’s growing reliance on plastics, which two of the train’s hazardous-material cargo are used to make.
A Norfolk Southern Corp. train carrying hazardous materials derailed in fiery fashion on the night of Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. The risk of some of those dangerous materials exploding prompted officials to allow the train operator to run what’s called a “controlled explosion” on Feb. 6, releasing known carcinogens and a plume of black smoke into the air. Although local residents and businesses were evacuated beforehand and have since been allowed back, many remain hesitant to return home.
Environmental and public health advocates also raised concerns after chemicals contaminated local waterways that feed into the Ohio River. A federal investigation into what caused the crash is ongoing, as is environmental monitoring inside and outside Ohio. EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced on Wednesday that he will head to East Palestine on Thursday to visit the disaster scene and meet with residents and emergency responders. The disaster highlights the dangers of the world’s growing reliance on plastics, which two key chemicals of concern — vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate — are used to make.