The toxic material spill following a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, continues to wreak havoc on local farming operations. One of the terrible consequences was the discovery of thousands of dead animals.
In nearby streams, some 3,500 fish and hundreds of birds were found dead. A "plume of chemicals" is flying over the Ohio River, greatly affecting wildlife ecosystems. East Palestine is located just 18 miles away.
Amanda Breshears resides in North Lima, Ohio, about 10 miles northwest of East Palestine. This Tuesday, when she went to feed her five hens and a rooster, Breshears found the animals lifeless. There were no signs of any predator. In fact, she claimed that her animals were alive the day before authorities burned the toxic material dumped from the derailed train, as he told WKBN-TV:
I am very upset and scared, because they may just be chickens, but they are family. My video camera footage shows my chickens were perfectly fine before they started this burn, and as soon as they started the burn, my chickens slowed down and they died.
OHIO 🚨 Woman finds all her chickens dead 10 miles from East Palestine, Ohio#OhioTrainDisaster #OhioRiver pic.twitter.com/UgH6i2M2CF
— Melissa 🇨🇦 (@MelissaLMRogers) February 14, 2023
People in grave danger
The inhalation of toxic gases is more than likely the cause of death of these animals. Those who live nearby may also be at risk of serious long-term health problems. "If it can do this to chickens in one night, imagine what it's going to do to us in 20 years," Breshears said.
On Feb. 3, the chemical contents of the tanks traveling inside the train were released due to the derailment. These substances included phosgene and hydrogen chloride. Phosgene is a gas that, at room temperature, is potentially poisonous. In fact, it was used as a chemical weapon during World War I.
"It's scary stuff here"
On Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tonight, Nathan Izotic, an East Palestine resident who lives less than two miles from the train crash, explained the problems he came back to when he returned home after the evacuation:
We are seeing them locally and inside of our bodies. What we're experiencing- local fish in our creeks have died….oily sheens and coloration in our water….[the] constant smell of burning plastics and chemicals in the air…issues with our dog…vomiting, acting lethargic. It's scary stuff here. As soon as we got [to] the Ohio line, we immediately smelled the chemicals yet again. And since then, I now have the chemical burns and reaction rash on my face, and my throat is getting irritated again and [I'm] feeling very uneasy. Very uneasy.
Human exposure to compounds such as phosgene or hydrogen chloride is highly detrimental to health, with consequences such as cardiopulmonary diseases or cancers that can lead to death by asphyxiation or shock.
