Crash site after a Norfolk and Southern freight train derailed on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio.Photo: Gene J Puskar/AP/Shutterstock
It has been nearly three weeks since aNorfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, spilling dangerous chemicals in the area, but the effect the spill has had on aquatic animals is just starting to become apparent.
On Feb. 3, the train pulling 150 cars through the village — located about 50 miles from Pittsburgh and home to over 4,700 — left the rails and toppled over, causing the substances on the train, including a burning chemical identified as vinyl chloride, to spill out into the surrounding area.
Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), explained in avirtual press conference on Thursdaythat the chemical spill highly impacted aquatic life within a 5-mile radius of the incident area, likely killing over 43,700 aquatic animals.
According to their investigation, an estimated 38,222 small fish, ranging in size between one and three inches, died because of the derailment. Additionally, ODNR claims at least 5,500 other aquatic animals were likely killed.
Mertz added that live fish were spotted returning to the impacted waterways around East Palestine during the investigation. However, there is still uncertainty about the spill’s long-term impact on aquatic life.
“I’m sure it’s something we’re going to watch for a long time,” she said. “I’m confident we’re going to bring it back. We do expect a full recovery eventually.”
RELATED VIDEO: ‘Catastrophic’ Explosion Possible After 150-Car Train Carrying Chemicals Derails in Ohio
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The U.S. EPA announced on Feb. 14 that it had “not detectedany levels of health concern in the community that are attributed to the train derailment” while monitoring the air.
Additionally, the agency said vinyl chloride was not detected in the nearly 400 homes tested for the chemical. “The threat of vinyl chloride fire producing phosgene and hydrogen chloride no longer exists,” the EPA said on its site.
source: people.com
