COLUMBUS, Ohio – The most frequent symptoms for East Palestine residents who completed an assessment of their health following the February. three Norfolk Southern derailment were headaches or anxiety, fatigue, coughing, burning, irritation or pain of the skin.
In the afternoon of Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine’s office announced findings from the survey conducted by state, federal, and municipal officials. Residents took part in the “after the exposure to chemicals” community survey that included more than 168 completed questionnaires – with the aim to give information on the ways individuals could be affected by the train’s derailment.
The survey was completed by residents during their visit to the East Palestine Health Assessment Clinic that is managed under The Ohio Department of Health and the Columbiana County Health District, in addition to during door-to door appointments from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services representatives.
The top five responses are the most frequently asked questions:
125 residents complained of headaches (or 74% of the respondents
108 people reported anxiety. 64 percent reported anxiety.
103 residents complained of coughing. 61 percent
Residents of 97 reported feeling tired or fatigue 58% of the residents reported fatigue or tiredness.
88 of the patients complained of burning, irritation or pain of the skin percent
The median age of respondents was 57 and the majority of respondents were aged over 18 as stated in the statement.
According to the statement, Health Department officials will use the data to understand how the derailment might be affecting residents, and to determine the most the appropriate response for public health according to the statement.
The health center will be operating next week. Patients who require continuous care are being directed to specialists. Counselors with certification are available in the clinic.
38 railcars were derailment within East Palestine, including 11 tank cars that were carrying dangerous materials which included vinyl chloride butyl acrylateand ethylhexylacrylate and ethylene glycol monbutylether. As they feared that the rising temperature would cause the tanks of vinyl chloride in the tanks to explode, government officials stomped on the tanks, resulting in huge pillars of black smoke that has worried residents and scared many across the world who watched images and videos of smoke.
About 43,700 fish and aquatic life in streams nearby that drain to the Ohio River, were killed according to estimates by the state.
Other information from DeWine’s Friday message included:
Removal of track
Ohio EPA will oversee the removal of 1,900 feet of tracks and tie ties from the derailment area for the purpose of excavating the soil below.
Norfolk Sothern’s plan for remediation that the state and federal governments endorsed, suggests it will take down the tracks on both sides as well as excavating soil and rebuild the rails before April 30, according to a statement by DeWine stated.
Agriculture meeting
The Ohio Department of Agriculture is planning a meeting with farmers in the region to discuss issues regarding the upcoming season of planting. The state “currently does not have any reason to believe that the crops that are planted in the region that is East Palestine are not safe,” the statement said.
Norfolk Southern is developing a soil sampling strategy for both agricultural and residential zones, which has been approved by the state or federal agencies.
New signs
The village of East Palestine is expected to shortly post signs warning that residents not to go into the local waterways, where cleaning and testing take place. The “KEEP out” warning signs are scheduled to be placed on Sulphur Run and Leslie Run close to the park that is open to the public and the site of derailment for trains as well as other areas in the village, DeWine’s statement stated.
Samples of private wells
The results of water samples taken from private wells within the derailment zone have not shown any harmful concentrations of contamination.
The total number of private health systems have been surveyed. The results can be found on the Columbiana County Health Department website: https://www.columbiana-health.org/resources/.
Hazardous Waste Removal
In the report of the Ohio EPA, approximately 3.2 million gallons (or 3.2 million gallons) of liquid wastewater have been emptied from East Palestine.
Around 210,000 gallons of the waste have been transported into Vickery Environment in Vickery, Ohio, to be treated with a the injection of deep wells.
Aproximately 1.9 million gallons of the liquid have been delivered into Texas Molecular in Deer Park, Texas, for deep well injection
Around 320,000 gallons of water have been transported up to Detroit Industrial Well in Romulus, Mich., for deep well injection.
According to the Ohio EPA reports that approximately 1,700 tons of solid waste also been removed from the site of derailment.
About 190 tons have been transported towards Ross Incineration Services in Grafton, Ohio, to be burned.
About 660 tons of waste have been transported up to Heritage Thermal Services in East Liverpool, Ohio, to be burned.
Around 440 tons of the waste have been delivered towards U.S. Ecology Wayne Disposal in Belleville, Mich., to be put in an earthen landfill.
About 440 tons of waste have been transported up to Heritage Environmental Services in North Roachdale, Ind., in a landfill.
Necropsies of wildlife
Six preliminary reports of deceased animals reported through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory show no evidence that supports chemical toxicity as the primary cause of death, the statement stated.
The four Raccoons, one muskrat, along with a snapping turtle, were all found within or close to Sulphur Run earlier this week. The animals that were that were submitted to Ohio Department of Natural Resources Ohio Department of Natural Resources were too decayed for laboratory work according to DeWine’s statement.
Student Services
DeWine has announced The Learning Aid Ohio program, that provides support at home for students who have Individualized Education Plans to supplement the support they receive in schools, has reserved slot for Columbiana County children impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment.
Learning Aid Ohio provides families with financial aid to pay the cost of specific in-home support services , for example, occupational therapy, tutoring or physical therapy to aid children in catching up and excel academically. For more information about the program, parents and service providers can go to LearningOhio.com.
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