What do we know about the SIX toxic chemicals released from the train derailment in Ohio?

The toxic soup of chemicals released after an Ohio train crash contains two known carcinogens and other substances that can cause convulsions and vomiting.

Railroad operator Norfolk Southern released the chemicals into the atmosphere in a controlled manner days later, which they said was necessary to avert a possible explosion.

Originally, Norfolk Southern released a fact sheet listing the chemicals on the train’s board as vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, benzene residue, and other flammable liquids.

Then it turned out that there were still three dangerous chemicals on board the train: glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate and isobutylene.

Since then, there have been reports of people getting sick and animals dying in the weeks following the February 3 derailment.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine lashed out at the state’s Public Utilities Commission yesterday after it claimed the toxic train that derailed in Ohio was not considered dangerous, despite the accident devastating the local area.

Vinyl chloride – a carcinogen that can disable the central nervous system

Vinyl chloride is a colorless man-made gas that burns easily.

It is mainly used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a hard plastic resin used to make plastic products, including pipe and wire and cable externals.

PVC is not known or suspected to not cause cancer, but vinyl chloride has been associated with a higher risk of a rare form of liver cancer (hepatic angiosarcoma), as well as primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), brain and lung cancer, lymphoma and leukemia .

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists vinyl chloride as a human carcinogen, meaning it has sufficient scientific evidence that it causes cancer in humans.

People exposed to vinyl chloride over many years are likely to develop liver damage and cancer.

The most likely way for it to enter a person’s body is by breathing it in, but it can also be ingested through contaminated drinking water.

The chemical travels through the body in the blood and the liver will break it down into other chemicals, some of which can do more damage than the vinyl chloride itself.

The gas has a faint sweet smell, but the threshold at which it starts to smell is “too high to conclusively warn of dangerous concentrations,” the CDC said.

This means that people can be overexposed to it without being aware that it is airborne.

Five minutes of exposure to more than twice the level at which it can be smelled can cause dizziness.

At levels five times higher, exposure can cause drowsiness, loss of coordination, vision and hearing problems, disorientation, nausea, headache, and burning or tingling in the arms and legs.

Prolonged exposure can lead to death by shutting down the central nervous system.

The gas is also found in tobacco smoke.

When burned or heated to a high enough temperature, the gas turns into hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and trace amounts of phosgene.

Benzene – a deadly industrial chemical

Two of the derailed cars reportedly contained benzene residue, a colorless or pale yellow liquid with a sweet smell.

It burns easily and evaporates quickly in the air.

The substance is formed naturally by volcanoes and forest fires and is a natural component of crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke.

It is also used to make plastics, nylon and some types of lubricants, medicines and pesticides.

Minutes to hours after inhaling benzene, it can cause symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, increased or irregular heartbeat, headache, confusion, unconsciousness, and even death at very high levels.

According to the CDC, eating food or drinking water contaminated with benzene can cause drowsiness, vomiting and convulsions within minutes to several hours. It can also cause death at very high levels.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Tuesday they conducted “robust air quality testing” in and around the area of ​​the crash and confirmed they detected “no level” of chemicals that could cause damage.

The authority added that they screened 396 homes for toxicity, and none showed detections of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride.

The degree of damage the substances can do depends on a range of factors, including the amount you are exposed to and the length of time, as well as factors such as age, diet, lifestyle and current health status.

Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether – a liquid used in paint strippers that can cause vomiting

Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, also known as 2-butoxyethanol, is a clear liquid used in paint strippers and thinners and household cleaners.

The gas can be released into the air as paint and cleaners dry.

When the substance reaches 68 F, it can evaporate and pollute the air.

The most common route of exposure is by inhaling the vapor or touching the liquid.

If the liquid touches the skin, it can dry out and crack.

The vapor may cause nose and eye irritation, headache, metallic taste and vomiting.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in landfills and hazardous waste sites, the substance can end up in the water that is underground.

Ethylhexyl acrylate — a substance in glue that causes drowsiness

Ethylhexyl acrylate is a clear liquid used by manufacturers to make paints, glues, leather finishes and coatings for paper.

If inhaled, overexposure to the chemical can cause irritation and drowsiness, and throat and mouth irritation if swallowed, according to chemical distribution company ThermoFisher Scientific.

The substance has been confused with ethyl acrylate, which is thought to cause cancer.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) said there is insufficient evidence in humans that ethylhexyl acrylate is a carcinogen, and only limited evidence in laboratory animals.

Butyl acrylate — a chemical that can cause the skin to ooze

Butyl acrylate is another colorless liquid used to make paints, coatings, sealants and adhesives. Unlike vinyl chloride, it has a strong, fruity odor.

According to the CDC, severe exposure to the vapor can cause eye irritation, including redness and tearing, a scratchy throat, difficulty breathing, and redness and cracking of the skin.

Continued exposure over months and years can cause the skin to itch and the affected areas to ooze. Behavioral and nervous system effects are also possible.

Isobutylene – a sweet-smelling gas that can be deadly in high concentrations

Like vinyl chloride, isobutylene is a transparent gas. It has a sweet, gasoline-like smell and is used to produce gasoline for airplanes, as well as food packaging, chewing gum and tires.

When inhaled, isobutylene can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and cause dizziness and drowsiness. At high levels, the substance can cause coma and death, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.