Toxic pollution from the East Palestine train derailment reached 110 million Americans

A new study found traces of hazardous chemicals from the disaster in 16 U.S. states.

On February 3, 2023, a freight train owned by Norfolk Southern carrying thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals derailed in the town of East Palestine, Ohio. For days, flames engulfed the rail cars, which contained highly hazardous materials, including vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate, used in the production of plastic. A thick, tall plume of black smoke billowed from the accident site and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents. Now, scientists say traces of this pollution was found across 16 states, spanning 540,000 square miles from Wisconsin to Maine to South Carolina.