On Monday, a family from Palestine, Ohio had to relocate after experiencing headaches from odors saturating their residence and workplace since the train derailment, two weeks ago.
This derailment resulted in potentially hazardous materials being released into the atmosphere.
On the evening of February 3, a train with approximately 50 cars, including several with highly hazardous vinyl chloride, derailed while headed to Pennsylvania due to a faulty axle. In order to avoid an explosion, authorities decided to burn the toxic gases, expelling hydrogen chloride and phosgene, a dangerous chemical used as a weapon in World War I, into the atmosphere.
Locals in the town were exposed to a controlled release of toxic chemicals which created a dense, black smoke that covered the area. Soon after, people were told they could return home, but dead animals and health complaints such as headaches have caused concerns that the effects of the chemicals are not over.
Nathan Velez, an East Palestine resident, told "Jesse Watters Primetime" on Monday night that, "they havent really told me anything useful. And when they did tell us, we were already given the OK to go home, so there is people already home, and then they released [a list of] all of the chemicals that were also within in that wreck."
Velez operates an auto repair shop close to the Ohio River. He has recently been affected by persistent headaches caused by a bad odor.
He continued to tell Jesse Watters "I came today where we are right now at my shop this is the first time I have been here in a week. And I was here 5 minutes and I have a headache right now and you can smell it. Anyone who comes here who hasnt been here can smell it. Your cameraman smelled it. It gives you a headache. He will probably have one."
The Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that they have not "detected any levels of concern in the community that can be attributed to the incident at this time. Nevertheless, Velez, a father of two, has different accounts from those living in the area.
"My house is just across the tracks and it smells, too. You cant spend a lot of time here without feeling like crap," Velez added. "And my question is why, if its OK if its safe, and all these people say its safe, if its so safe and OK then why does it hurt?"
The Velez family moved to a Canfield Airbnb as investigators wearing protective gear inspected the environment in the area.
Cancer.gov states that Vinyl chloride, a chemical frequently used to produce pipes, wire coating, and packaging, is related to an elevated risk of a rare type of liver cancer, hepatic angiosarcoma, in addition to primary liver cancer, brain and lung cancers, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, expressed his shock Monday at the concerning reports he has been receiving from people living in the area. He then requested that anyone with evidence of environmental damage should reach out to his office.
Vance commented "This is a complex environmental disaster with impacts that may be difficult to assess in the short term. Long term study will be imperative."
Login