Five of the train cars that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3rd were carrying vinyl chloride.
This toxic, colorless, flammable gas is created from fracked gas to make PVC plastic and is poisonous at every point in the process — from creation to use to disposal. Vinyl chloride is known to cause cancer, and it is a serious threat to public health and water. There is no safe level of exposure to vinyl chloride.
When Norfolk Southern, the rail company responsible for the train derailment in East Palestine, made the decision to burn the vinyl chloride in its rail cars, it set off an environmental and public health disaster, killing fish and other animals and impacting the health of the surrounding community and the first responders and workers tasked with cleaning up the hazardous materials.
Vinyl chloride is usually manufactured in low-income communities and communities of color, where it threatens the health of local communities — a clear violation of environmental justice.
The EPA states that exposure to vinyl chloride can cause cancer and disrupt the hormonal, reproductive, developmental, and immune systems. Rates of cancer surrounding the manufacturing of this chemical are significantly higher than average. On top of that, communities are faced with increased risks of air and water pollution.
The EPA has the power to ban vinyl chloride using an existing regulatory framework under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a process that can be started immediately.
Food & Water Action and its affiliated organization, Food & Water Watch, are advocacy groups with a common mission to protect our food, water and climate.
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