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Shop NowSome workers involved in the toxic cleanup efforts following the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment weren’t provided with the proper protective equipment. Now, they’re showing all sorts of illnesses and symptoms of toxic chemical exposure. Lingering migraines and nausea might only be the tip of the iceberg.
Train cleanup crews unprotected
Workers who “aided in the cleanup of the train derailment in Ohio,” The Hill reports, “have experienced lingering migraines and nausea.”
The union representing those workers is demanding answers.
Jonathan Long serves as a union representative for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. He wrote to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Wednesday, March 1, to bring the problem to his attention.
The letter claims that workers were not given proper protective gear to facilitate the cleanup, including eye protection and respirators. https://t.co/pSaXOldtlk
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 3, 2023
It seems that “around 40 workers were ordered by Norfolk Southern, which owns the train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, last month, to clean up the wreckage.” They allegedly weren’t given the proper safety equipment to do it.
Long relayed to the governor reports he had received saying the train wreck response workers “were not given proper personal protection equipment to help clean up the wreckage.” Basic things like “respirators, eye protection and protective clothing.”
Since then, many employees “reported that they continue to experience migraines and nausea, days after the derailment, and they all suspect that they were willingly exposed to these chemicals” at the direction of the railroad.
Workers cleaning up the East Palestine rail disaster complained of migraines and nausea for days after the derailment. Protective equipment, such as rubber gloves or boots—let alone hazmat suits or eye protection—wasn’t provided to them, they say. https://t.co/4Swe7fgzQF
— The New Republic (@newrepublic) March 3, 2023
Railroad denies the claim
Norfolk Southern quickly issued a statement denying the allegations. They insist that everyone near the toxic train cars were properly protected.
“In East Palestine, Norfolk Southern was on-scene immediately after the derailment and coordinated our response with hazardous material professionals who were on site continuously to ensure the work area was safe to enter and the required PPE was utilized, all in addition to air monitoring that was established within an hour.”
Ever since the train derailed in East Palestine, everyone for miles has been alarmed over the toxic chemicals which had to be burned off. They’re also pretty concerned about “potential environmental and health hazards.” It was days after the accident before they were cleared to return home. Since then, local residents have been reporting “unusual symptoms such as rashes and burning sensations when they breathe.”
Good: After the East Palestine derailment, Norfolk Southern immediately sent crews to start the cleanup and repairs. Bad: Without protective gear and workers are sick https://t.co/e9KivAcvr3
— Fark (@fark) March 3, 2023
Those affected by Toxicant Induced Loss of Tolerance warn that those are serious warning signs and urge anyone experiencing such symptoms to get as far away from there as they can, if it’s not already too late. Once the condition is activated by exposure to toxic chemicals, the health effects become increasingly dramatic over time. There is no known cure and no known treatment, other than complete avoidance of anything which triggers symptoms.
Following exposure to the chemicals released during this unfortunate and probably preventable train disaster, those who develop TILT can expect to become phenomenally sensitive to an ever growing list of common ordinary “safe” household chemicals. It only takes around 3-5 parts per BILLION of everyday things like perfume, shampoo or laundry soap to trigger reactions in those unfortunately affected.
Over time, that results in a total disruption of the patient’s lifestyle into one of exile and isolation. Las Vegas mass murderer Stephen Paddock was a TILT patient. He couldn’t cope with the loss of his high rolling ways when he became triggered by chemicals in the casinos he frequented.
