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Norfolk Southern Railway's Failure to Test For Asthma

Residents in East Palestine, Ohio are worried about their health after the fiery derailment of an Ohio train. They claim that the railroad does not test enough air, soil, and Norfolk southern railway reactive Airway disease water.

EPA representatives have representatives from the EPA have accompanied CTEH employees to the homes of CTEH residents, and overseen the indoor air testing. But some are still skeptical.

Asthma Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of asthma are often caused by common triggers, such as smoke, pet dander, mold, tobacco, cold air and pollen. Some triggers are more rare or uncommon, such as perfume, aspirin or traffic. For people with asthma, it's essential to identify their personal triggers and avoid them as much as is possible.

In the days after the derailment of a toxic train in East Palestine, Ohio, residents living near the site of the crash reported coughing up gray mucus and struggling to breathe. Local officials advised them to evacuate their homes, but vinyl chloride in the derailed train was safe to return home, after authorities conducted tests on the air and water. Some of the residents are now sick with chest pain. They also have nausea and tingling sensations in their toes and fingers.

What's the reason? Long-term exposure to railroad diesel exhaust fumes. Railroad workers have filed lawsuits alleging lung disorders they believe are related to exposure to diesel exhaust, a condition known as diesel asthma.

Residents living in Englewood, Chicago, have been accusing Norfolk Southern of not keeping the promises it made to invest in the community and provide local jobs. They've been urging norfolk Southern Railway Reactive airway disease Southern to examine their indoor air quality, recruit locals and pay for more police patrols in the neighborhood. They've urged their elected officials to join them and demand the company be "a better partner" in Englewood. Local alderwoman Jeanette taylor says that the railway company "holds us hostage" and has not been able to convince them to take action.

Asthma Treatment

Authorities in East Palestine, Ohio, decided to blow holes in five railcars in order to eliminate the chemical after a train that was derailed spewed vinyl-chloride into the soil and water. Then, they burned them, releasing a cloud into the air and causing thousands of residents to leave for several days.

Then, the local Environmental Protection Agency said it was safe to return home, and the Norfolk Southern website launched an information hub to keep people up-to-date about environmental issues and family assistance programs. The company also arranged for CTEH to test the air quality inside the homes of residents and provide them with results, which are often unclear. The relationship between CTEH and Norfolk Southern wasn't always clear, and some forms the company asked residents to sign included an uninformed statement that suggested the people who signed the forms could not sue. The EPA claims that it has helped to clarify those tests and is working with residents who have concerns.

However, many residents are worried. In a private Facebook group, they've shared stories of ongoing headaches and irritation to the lungs and have also reported that their children suffer from skin rashes on their arms and faces. They're urging each other to keep meticulous documentation in case they need to use it in any future legal action against the railroad. They're calling for elected officials to impose strict regulations that oversee the operation and provide transparent reporting on Norfolk Southern. They also want Norfolk Southern to recruit locally, repair the crumbling infrastructure and research the health impacts of the Englewood intermodal yard.

Asthma Causes

The train's derailment in East Palestine, Ohio caused an ensuing toxic fire that released smoke and vapours of vinyl chloride, butyl acrylicate and other toxic chemicals. According to a class action lawsuit filed against Norfolk Southern, these chemicals caused contamination of drinking water and soil. Residents were required to evacuate and drink bottled water. The lawsuit states that the harmful chemicals could also contaminate the DNA of people and cause neurological problems.

Railroad workers have a much greater risk of developing lung cancer from breathing exhaust fumes from diesel engines than general population. They also have a greater chance of being exposed to secondary asbestos, which can be found in coal dust on trains as well as in homes of families living near them.

Exposure to toxic solvents at the workplace can result in the condition known as toxicencephalopathy. This disease can cause fatigue, memory loss and a failure to think clearly. It can also cause heart issues. Symptoms of this disease can be difficult to detect. Some symptoms include fatigue, inability to balance and trouble remembering things.

Many residents in the East Palestine area have complained that they aren't well-informed by Norfolk Southern or local government officials about the health risks of having a rail yard in their area. For instance, an alarming FAQ document that has no official or company letterhead has appeared on many people's doors and asking them to consent to testing of their air quality, water, and soil.

Asthma Prevention

Apart from ensuring that children are receiving the right medications and limiting exposure to asthma triggers can help reduce the risk of developing symptoms. For instance, experts recommend not smoking secondhand smoke and staying inside on high ozone alert days and Norfolk southern railway reactive Airway disease limiting outdoor activities during the peak allergy season.

The derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3 led to an evacuation and released of dangerous chemicals. According to a lawsuit filed by residents in a class-action suit, the fire that burned rail cars released "dense clouds" of toxic fumes including vinyl chloride and butylacrylate residues. The vapors could also have contaminated soil and water.

Norfolk Southern promised to make things right after the disaster for the close-knit community. This includes cleaning the site in a safe and thorough manner, testing soil, air, and water and helping families who had their lives disrupted.

However the company hasn't explained exactly how it intends to carry the promises. Some of the residents interviewed by ProPublica expressed concern about potential conflicts of interests.

Does your child's school support the safe use of inhalers and other quick-relief medications, such as inhalers? Do they keep students' quick-relief medicines available in all times, including during school events? Do they encourage physical activity that don't trigger an asthma attack? And are school buildings and grounds free from tobacco smoke? If not then it's time to take action.