East Palestine Residents Coming Down With Mysterious Illness As Hazardous Chemicals Linger Following Derailment

Following a train derailment on February 3rd in East Palestine, Ohio, residents have experienced side effects from the decision to burn hazardous chemicals such as vinyl chloride that has resulted in the contamination of the local water supply and air.

According to WKBN, medical professionals from the QUICKmed Urgent Care in Columbiana, approximately a 15-minute drive from East Palestine, have stated that they are seeing patients with “a burning sensation when they breathe, as well as rashes and general weakness.”

Residents are complaining that they begin to feel better once they leave their homes in East Palestine, but once they return their symptoms return meaning that East Palestine’s air quality may be contaminated.

“This could be a lot of things, but if you’re leaving your house and [symptoms] improve, and you go back and it comes back, I’m not thinking that’s allergies or not thinking it’s a cold,” said QUICKmed employee Deb Weese to WKBN. “I think it’s related to that stuff you’re inhaling there.”

Weese went on to explain that the burning sensation that residents are feeling could be “chemical bronchitis.”

“Let’s face it: If it comes down to it,” she said, “it might be something in the future that comes about from all these chemicals they’re breathing in that we don’t know about, so it’s important that they document all of their symptoms.”

BREAKING: RESEARCHERS RELEASE ALARMING FINDING ABOUT LASTING HEALTH EFFECTS FOR EAST PALESTINE RESIDENTS FROM HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS

What the residents are feeling is backed up by data as well. As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, a group of researchers from Texas A&M University and Carnegie Mellon announced that they have detected several chemicals that are at a higher-than-normal level in the small town.

According to the researchers, nine of the 50 chemicals carried aboard the train are at levels that could bring health consequences to residents. They noted in particular the chemical Acrolein

According to the CDC, Acrolein “is highly toxic via all routes and is severely irritating to the eyes, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, and skin. Acrolein is highly flammable, can form explosive mixtures with air, and burns to produce irritating, corrosive, and/or toxic gases.”

Other chemicals that are at higher than normal rates include Trichloroethane, Butadiene, Naphthalene, Trichloroethylene, and Vinyl Chloride.

While the researchers found that these chemicals are at higher than normal levels, they noted that Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes, which are typical of the petroleum industry and are known carcinogens, are at “normal” levels.

As the lasting health impacts from the derailment are still coming into the picture, the residents of East Palestine are suffering. If it is unsafe for them to be in their homes, then the government should notify them to leave the area. It is shameful the negligence present during this entire crisis. 

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