Widespread, Lingering Impacts of Norfolk Southern Warrant an Emergency Response

What the reports show

The most commonly reported topic was the smell. Over half of the survey participants talk about the smell, which they describe as “bleach,” “burning plastic,” “sweet,” and many just label it a “chemical smell.” Some residents shared that the smell permeated their homes, and some people believed the smell to be traveling along Leslie Run creek.

While the initial survey did not ask directly about health impacts, 39% of residents described human or animal health impacts. The most common impact they described was throat irritation or coughing, followed by headaches or migraines. Other commonly reported health impacts were impacts to skin and/or rashes, and stinging and burning eyes. Many people shared feelings of fear and anxiety over not knowing what health hazards they were exposed to, and what long-term impacts they may be facing. Residents were not given clear guidance following the incident, and many survey participants noted feeling scared to wash their clothes, take a shower, and let their pets outside.

Ongoing health research

Environmental scientists at the University of Kentucky, led by Dr. Erin Haynes, have launched an online health tracking survey, which will elucidate the anecdotal reports like the ones from River Valley Organizing’s survey. Adults near the derailment (in Columbiana, Mahoning, Stark, Carroll and Jefferson Counties in Ohio, Beaver and Lawrence Counties in Pennsylvania, and Hancock County, West Virginia) are encouraged to participate in the study’s brief online survey. The research team will be conducting long-term research to assess potential health effects, and is working in collaboration with local residents to guide this work. Learn more here. 

Animal impacts

Thirty-one survey participants talked about animal health impacts, and the most common impact people described was seeing dead fish. Following the derailment, chemicals in the train cars, including butyl acrylate spilled into Sulphur Run, which flows into Leslie Run and then North Fork Little Beaver Creek and eventually the Ohio River.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) reported that an estimated 38,222 minnows were potentially killed as a result of the derailment, and that an additional 5,500 other aquatic species (small fish, crayfish, amphibians and macroinvertebrates) were also potentially killed along a 5-mile span from the train derailment site near Sulphur Run to where Bull Creek flows into the North Fork of Little Beaver Creek. The ODNR believes that these deaths occurred immediately after the derailment. Water samples conducted by the Ohio EPA and United States EPA found elevated levels of butyl acrylate and other chemicals, which have since declined. You can find the latest surface water monitoring results here.