Hundreds of people were evacuated in southwestern Ohio after a train car leaked styrene, a toxic chemical used in plastics manufacturing, sending white vapor plumes into the air.
Amudalat Ajasa and Annabelle Timsit report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- A train car leaked styrene near Cincinnati, leading to an evacuation within a half-mile radius.
- Styrene exposure can cause neurological effects and is considered a carcinogen by California officials.
- Emergency teams worked to cool the railcar while air quality remained under close observation.
Key quote:
“The event in Ohio is the latest devastating result of using cancer-causing styrene to make plastic for everything from packaging to electronics.”
— Liz Hitchcock, director of Toxic-Free Future’s federal policy program.
Why this matters:
Chemical spills during transport raise serious health and safety concerns for nearby communities. Styrene exposure can cause both short- and long-term health issues, and repeated incidents like these highlight the risks of transporting hazardous materials.
Related EHN coverage:
- The EPA has disclosed additional, concerning chemicals released during the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
- After the eighth catastrophic train derailment in the greater Pittsburgh area in five years, advocates demand better protections
- East Palestine, Ohio, derailment reveals gaps in public health response to chemical emergencies, experts say
