Toxic train derailment in East Palestine Ohio

[Tobra]

Did not see a thread about this. Sounds pretty bad, kind of an environmental catastrophe. Have heard very, very little about this. Hopefully none of y'all are anywhere nearby. They burned the PVC, among other toxic chemicals, rather than pump it out of the tanks.

The controlled burn sent phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air with phosgene — a highly toxic gas that could lead to vomiting and trouble breathing. It’s so potent soldiers used it as a weapon in World War I.

https://nypost.com/2023/02/08/evacuation-order-lifted-after-hazardous-ohio-train-derailment-fire/

[masraum]

"The controlled burn sent phosgene and hydrogen chloride into the air with phosgene"

I feel like I went to a power plant once that was near a Bayer chemical plant. I'm pretty sure that we were given tags to wear that would alert you of phosgene gas presence. I heard that if you noticed that the tag had triggered, that you were probably already screwed. Maybe it was something else.

[unclebilly]

Sounds worse than a pipeline leak… yet some still think it’s better to ship oil by rail because… you know, ‘the environment’.

I feel bad for those that are affected by this mess. It’s funny how train derailments that lead to chemical spills are hushed up but if 1000 gallons of oil leaks from a pipeline and a bird dies…

[McLovin]

Seems like a major catastrophe.
But it’s so bizarre, to the “news” it’s like it never happened.
Why is that?

Example, I just looked

[Arizona_928]

From eastern media

[A930Rocket]

I read they filmed a movie there within the last few years about this exact subject. Weird.

I feel sorry for everybody that’s going through this.

[dennis in se pa]

There is death there they won't tell you about. Big money and our government makes everything OK.

[LWJ]

absolute nightmare.

[Tobra]

The bit about them arresting reporters is actually true.

Originally Posted by McLovin

Seems like a major catastrophe.
But it’s so bizarre, to the “news” it’s like it never happened.
Why is that?

Bizarre enough I started this thread.

It is a war crime, unless the EPA does it, WTF?

They have dead river and a bunch of dead critters. In a few years there will be a bunch of people dead from liver cancer.

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Tobra

The bit about them arresting reporters is actually true.



Bizarre enough I started this thread.

It is a war crime, unless the EPA does it, WTF?

They have dead river and a bunch of dead critters. In a few years there will be a bunch of people dead from liver cancer.

On what grounds are they arresting the reporters?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by astrochex

On what grounds are they arresting the reporters?

According to the article it appears to be, "One person was arrested Sunday night for going around the barricades and going right up to the crash site, East Palestine Mayor Trent Conway said."

Also seems it didn't explode on its own.

"The chemicals put the cars at risk of exploding so officials performed a controlled burn of vinyl chloride from the five rail cars, sending flames and thick black smoke billowing into the sky at the derailment site."

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

From eastern media

You should post the link to this "article" so it can be more objectively evaluated.

[Zeke]

Over the years there have been many cases of poisoning from phosgene gas from parts washed with chlorinated brake parts cleaner when sub sequent welding was done. In less than a minute a life was ruined forever. Weldors experienced MS type symptoms within minutes.

They never went away and some died as a result. This has been discussed extensively on welding forums. As little as 10 seconds of direct exposure is life threatening. If not less.

I would flee Ohio.

[fastfredracing]

This is about 30-40 minutes from my house . I have friends who could see , and smell the clouds in the air .
Nothing to see here

[hbueno]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Seems like a major catastrophe.
But it’s so bizarre, to the “news” it’s like it never happened.
Why is that?

Example, I just looked

Have you been in hiding off the grid? It was all.over the news.

[Cajundaddy]

This is a bad accident and burning vinyl chloride is pretty close to mustard gas. If I lived in the area I would probably do my civic duty and take an unscheduled 2 week trip to Florida. Get a good distance away from this mess and be out of the way so hazmat can clean it up and secure whatever is still intact in rail cars.

The good news is that these chemicals will oxidize, dissipate, and dilute fairly quickly unlike lead or mercury that would contaminate the area for a very long time.

[jyl]

Have local officials evacuated the town?

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

You should post the link to this "article" so it can be more objectively evaluated.

Lol.

There's nothing objective to it. Clear bias but valid points.

[unclebilly]

Paraphrasing in blue…

Norfolk Southern has donated $25000 to the local Red Cross. This works out to $10-12 per person that was affected and had to be evacuated.

Norfolk Southern may be responsible for cleanup costs… What do they mean, ‘might be responsible?

[GH85Carrera]

I saw that news story on the national news, but like most stories it was a two day thing, and then back to other stories.

I was at a railroad crossing in Downtown Briton, OK and watched as 1/2 the cars in a long train rolled past with stickers identifying the contents as hot liquid sulfur. I thought about what a catastrophic wreck that would make. Just one tank car of liquid sulfur would be bad, but 40 or 50 tankers would be a horrible disaster. No doubt those loads transverse the country every day, and liquid sulfur is benign compared to some loads.