A report reveals that workers cleaning up the 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, suffered illness while working in contaminated creeks, but the findings were not disclosed to the public.
Josh Funk reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Cleanup workers fell ill while removing chemicals from creeks contaminated by the 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment.
- Despite public concern, the report detailing these illnesses was not released, and the long-term health impacts remain unclear.
- Residents face a deadline to accept settlement money in exchange for waiving future legal claims.
Key quote:
“It’s absolutely egregious, and that shouldn’t happen. I think that any type of information like that — just like when the CDC workers came to the area and got sick — that should be disclosed instead of diminished.”
— Misti Allison, East Palestine resident
Why this matters:
The undisclosed illnesses raise concerns about transparency and the long-term health risks for East Palestine residents, with questions remaining about the adequacy of the cleanup efforts and monitoring.
