(LAUREN TAYLOR)
A report that has been kept secret from the public since last spring reveals that workers involved in the cleanup of the train derailment accident in East Palestine became ill while doing so.
SOME BECAME ILL WHILE CLEANING STREAMS NEAR THE OVERTURNED NORFOLK SOUTHERN FREIGHT CARS – WHICH CARRIED TOXIC CHEMICALS.
Workers reported headaches and nausea while shooting compressed air into the stream bed.
The process, known as “Air Knife,” releases chemicals from deposits and water.
The cleanup continued until three weeks later, when another worker became ill. At that point, the air knife process was finally stopped.
AN INDEPENDENT TOXICOLOGIST SAID WORKERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY WERE SPREADING CHEMICALS INTO THE AIR – AND USING AN AIR METER WAS “NOT AN INFORMED DECISION”.
A NORFOLK SOUTHERN SPOKESMAN CLAIMED NONE OF THE SICK WORKERS HAD “REPORTED ANY PERMANENT OR LONG-TERM SYMPTOMS.”
SHE ADDED: “THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS AND THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN OF THE utmost importance throughout the entire RESTORATION IN EASTERN PALESTINE.”
SINCE THE DERAILMENT IN 2023, RESIDENTS HAVE REPORTED SKIN RASHES, ASTHMA AND RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, AS WELL AS ILLNESSES SUCH AS BREAST CANCER IN MEN.
RESEARCHERS ARE STILL DETERMINING HOW MANY OF THE HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE ZUGUNGAUER.
IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER POLLUTANTS FROM OTHER INDUSTRIAL BEDS IN THE REGION WERE ALSO FOUND IN THE STREAM BED.
EASTERN PALESTINIANS HAVE TILL AUGUST 22 TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT $25,000 AS PART OF A $600 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST NORFOLK SOUTHERN.
The money is intended to cover any future health costs.
Subsequent testing by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found small amounts of vinyl chloride and other chemicals at the accident site, but the agency says this poses no health risk because the contaminated soil has been removed.
THE ENTIRE CLEANUP OPERATION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR.
FOR MORE STORIES ON THE TRAIN DERAILMENT IN EASTERN PALESTINE, GET THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN-DOT-COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.
