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Explainer: What to Know About the Ohio Train Derailment

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This infographic explains the Ohio train derailment and potential impacts of the chemicals involved

Explainer: What to Know About the Ohio Train Derailment

What started out as a seemingly commonplace train derailment near the border of Ohio and Pennsylvania in early February escalated into a serious threat to more than 4,000 people in the immediate area. Millions of people living in the vicinity of the derailment are also watching this situation closely as chemicals have made their way into the air and waterways.

Vinyl chloride, which was being transported on a number of the 150 train cars owned by Norfolk Southern, is a key cause for concern in the aftermath of the derailment. The chemical is a known carcinogen, and is dangerous when released into the environment.

In this piece, we’re providing a timeline, an explainer on the chemicals being carried by the train, the impact zone of the derailment and release of said chemicals, and the other basics you need to know.

What Was the Train Carrying?

The company that owns the train, Norfolk Southern, released a document detailing the train cars and what each carried, as well as whether or not it was damaged and/or derailed. Here are the highlights:

Car TypeLoad/MTYCommodityHaz ClassStatus of Car
HopperLoadedPolypropylene Not in derailment pile
HopperLoadedPolypropylene Not in derailment pile
HopperLoadedPolyethylene lading destroyed by fire
HopperLoadedPolyethylene lading destroyed by fire
Tank CarEmptyResidue lube oil scrap pending C&P
Tank CarLoadedVinyl chloride, stabilized2.1 (FLAM. GAS) car did not leak/cars vent product through the PRD and ignited/vent and burn performed
Tank CarLoadedVinyl chloride, stabilized2.1 (FLAM. GAS) car did not leak/cars vent product through the PRD and ignited/vent and burn performed
Tank CarLoadedVinyl chloride, stabilized2.1 (FLAM. GAS) car did not leak/cars vent product through the PRD and ignited/vent and burn performed
Tank CarLoadedVinyl chloride, stabilized2.1 (FLAM. GAS) vent product through the PRD and ignited/vent and burn
Tank CarLoadedDipropylene glycol fire impingement/no signs of tank breach
Tank CarLoadedPropylene glycol flame impingement, no tank breach found
Tank CarLoadedPropylene glycol tank breached/lost most of load
Tank CarLoadedDiethylene glycol had small leak from BOV, unknown amount of product in car
Tank CarLoadednos (ethylene glycol mono butyl ether) COMB. LIQUID unknown status
HopperLoadedSemolinain pile, destroyed by fire
Tank CarLoadednos (Ethylhexyl acrylate) COMB. LIQUID Car breached on head end/amount of product still in car pending
HopperLoadedPolyvinylburned
HopperLoadedPolyvinylactively burning
Tank CarLoaded Petroleum lube oil double comp car/both breached/entire load lost
Tank CarLoadedPetroleum lube oil tank breached/lost most of load
Tank CarLoadedPetroleum lube oil flame impinged, may have had a small leak/will be determined when car is off loaded
Tank CarLoadedPetroleum lube oil flame impinged, small leak from top fittings, unknown amount left in tank
Tank CarLoadedPolypropyl glycol flame impinged, tank breached/ most of load lost
Tank CarLoadedPropylene glycol flame impinged, no signs of breach
Tank CarLoadedDiethylene glycol flame impinged, tank breached/ load lost
Tank CarLoadedDiethylene glycol flame impinged, lost unknown amount at this time from damaged BOV
Tank CarLoadedIsobutylene 2.1 (FLAM. GAS) some flame impingement/no signs of breach
Tank CarLoadedButyl acrylates, stabilized 3 (FLAM. LIQUID) Head breach/lost entire load (spill& fire)
Tank CarLoadedPetro oil, necflame impinged, small leak from VRV stopped, car still loaded
Tank CarLoadedAdditives, fuelflame impinged, no sign of breach
HopperLoadedPolyvinylinvolved in fire
HopperLoadedPolyvinylinvolved in fire
Tank CarLoadedVinyl chloride, stabilized 2.1 (FLAM. GAS) car did not leak/cars vent product through the PRD and ignited/vent and burn performed
Box CarLoadedBalls, CTN, MEDCL burning or has burned
Box CarLoadedSheet steelburning or has burned
Box CarLoadedFrozen vegetableburning or has burned
Tank CarEmptyBenzene3 (FLAM. LIQUID) damaged, fire impinged/ no breach
Tank CarEmptyBenzene3 (FLAM. LIQUID) damaged, fire impinged/ no breach
Tank CarLoadedParaffin waxflame impingement/no signs of breach
Hopper LoadedPowder flakesburned, extinguished
Hopper LoadedPowder flakesin line, upright, impinged
Hopper LoadedHydraulic cement
AutorackLoadedAutos passender
Box carLoadedMalt liquors
Box carLoadedMalt liquors
Box carLoadedMalt liquors
Box carLoadedMalt liquors
Box carLoadedMalt liquors
Box carLoadedMalt liquors
Box carLoadedMalt liquors
Box carLoadedMalt liquors
Box carLoadedMalt liquors

Aside from dangerous chemicals, the train was carrying things like sheet steel, semolina, cement, malt liquor, and paraffin wax.

The Threat of the Chemical Substances

  • Vinyl chloride: a gas which is commonly used to make PVC plastics. It is extremely flammable and produces toxic fumes when burned. It is also carcinogenic and can cause a myriad of health issues.
  • Butyl acrylate: a liquid used for making sealants, adhesives, and paints. It can cause skin, respiratory, and eye irritation.
  • Benzene residue: benzene is a highly flammable liquid. It is used to make things like rubbers, plastics, and dyes. It evaporates extremely quickly into the air and if exposed at high levels, it can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, tremors, irregular heartbeat, among other symptoms.
  • Ethylhexyl acrylate: a liquid used to produce plastics and paint. It can cause respiratory and skin irritation. It can also produce a hazardous vapor under appropriate heat.
  • Ethylene glycol monobutyl: a liquid that is primarily used as a solvent for inks and paints, as well as dry cleaning solutions. It is acutely toxic and can inflict serious or permanent injury. Vapors from the liquid can irritate the nose and eyes, and, if ingested, can cause vomiting and headaches.
  • Combustible liquids

According to the CDC, many of these substances are frequently transported across the U.S.; benzene, for example, ranks in the top 20 chemicals by production volume in the country.

The Timeline

Friday, February 3rd: The train, which was heading from Madison, Illinois to Conway, Pennsylvania, was carrying various products from frozen vegetables to industrial chemicals. Near East Palestine, Ohio, just before the Pennsylvania border, 38 of the train’s 150 train cars derailed and subsequent fires caused damages to another 12. Additionally, 11 of the derailed train cars carried hazardous material, the most dangerous being vinyl chloride.

The derailment caused a large fire and ominous plumes of smoke over East Palestine, but there were no fatalities or injuries. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the cause of the derailment is still under investigation.

Saturday, February 4th: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) crews began running air pollution and water runoff tests. They detected contaminated water in two streams, Sulphur Run and Leslie Run.

Sunday, February 5th: The EPA and Norfolk Southern’s contractors continued testing, and recovery efforts were underway at the contaminated water sites.

Monday, February 6th: Responders conducted a controlled burn of toxic materials to destroy the remaining vinyl chloride, which posed a threat of explosion and subsequent toxic fumes and shrapnel. Because of this the standing evacuation order was extended to include a larger area. From the Ohio governor’s announcement:

“The controlled release process involves the burning of the rail cars’ chemicals, which will release fumes into the air that can be deadly if inhaled. Based on current weather patterns and the expected flow of the smoke and fumes, anyone who remains in the red affected area is facing grave danger of death.” – Mike DeWine

Wednesday, February 8th: Just days later, the governor announced that it was safe for residents to return home as air quality tests were coming back clean.

In the last week: Reports have been coming in of people feeling symptoms related to the release of toxic chemicals. Additionally, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, reported that 3,500 fish were found dead in Ohio waterways as a direct result of the spill from the train derailment.

The EPA, however, has screened the air quality inside more than 400 homes, finding levels to be safe. A statement from the regional director of the EPA said that: “Since the fire went out on February 8, EPA air monitoring has not detected any levels of health concern in the community that are attributed to the train derailment.”

On Wednesday, the 15th, Norfolk Southern representatives pulled out of a meeting with town officials, causing outrage among residents. The following day, EPA administrator, Michael Regan, visited East Palestine to quell the anger and fears, but residents are still unhappy and skeptical of the testing.

The largest remaining issue is that water quality connected to the Ohio River, which is still being monitored. The governor has recommended only drinking bottled water.

The Overall Impacts

The town of East Palestine is home to just over 4,000 people and the crash happened dangerously close to the city of Pittsburgh, PA. Contamination in the water supply have led to the deaths of thousands of fish and people are now complaining of reactions to the chemical leakage.

Norfolk Southern has set up an Assistance Center and donated over $1 million to help people cover costs of evacuation, as well as conducting extensive testing of air and water quality. The governor is now calling for tighter regulations on rail companies and a number of lawsuits have been filed against Norfolk Southern.

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How Carbon Dioxide Removal is Critical to a Net-Zero Future

Here’s how carbon dioxide removal methods could help us meet net-zero targets and and stabilize the climate.

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Teaser image for a post on the importance of carbon dioxide removal in the push for a net-zero future.

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The following content is sponsored by Carbon Streaming

How Carbon Dioxide Removal is Critical to a Net-Zero Future

Meeting the Paris Agreement temperature goals and avoiding the worst consequences of a warming world requires first and foremost emission reductions, but also the ongoing direct removal of CO2 from the atmosphere.

We’ve partnered with Carbon Streaming to take a deep look at carbon dioxide removal methods, and the role that they could play in a net-zero future. 

What is Carbon Dioxide Removal?

Carbon Dioxide Removal, or CDR, is the direct removal of CO2 from the atmosphere and its durable storage in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs, or in products. 

And according to the UN Environment Programme, all least-cost pathways to net zero that are consistent with the Paris Agreement have some role for CDR. In a 1.5°C scenario, in addition to emissions reductions, CDR will need to pull an estimated 3.8 GtCO2e p.a. out of the atmosphere by 2035 and 9.2 GtCO2e p.a. by 2050.

The ‘net’ in net zero is an important quantifier here, because there will be some sectors that can’t decarbonize, especially in the near term. This includes things like shipping and concrete production, where there are limited commercially viable alternatives to fossil fuels.

Not All CDR is Created Equal

There are a whole host of proposed ways for removing CO2 from the atmosphere at scale, which can be divided into land-based and novel methods, and each with their own pros and cons. 

Land-based methods, like afforestation and reforestation and soil carbon sequestration, tend to be the cheapest options, but don’t tend to store the carbon for very long—just decades to centuries. 

In fact, afforestation and reforestation—basically planting lots of trees—is already being done around the world and in 2020, was responsible for removing around 2 GtCO2e. And while it is tempting to think that we can plant our way out of climate change, think that the U.S. would need to plant a forest the size of New Mexico every year to cancel out their emissions.

On the other hand, novel methods like enhanced weathering and direct air carbon capture and storage, because they store carbon in minerals and geological reservoirs, can keep carbon sequestered for tens of thousand years or longer. The trade off is that these methods can be very expensive—between $100-500 and north of $800 per metric ton

CDR Has a Critical Role to Play

In the end, there is no silver bullet, and given that 2023 was the hottest year on record—1.45°C above pre-industrial levels—it’s likely that many different CDR methods will end up playing a part, depending on local circumstances. 

And not just in the drive to net zero, but also in the years after 2050, as we begin to stabilize global average temperatures and gradually return them to pre-industrial norms. 

Carbon Streaming uses carbon credit streams to finance CDR projects, such as reforestation and biochar, to accelerate a net-zero future.

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Learn more about Carbon Streaming’s CDR projects.

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