Monthly Environmental RoundUp

February 2023

Frankie Lloyd

This month, pollution made the headlines frequently following the tragic derailment of a chemical-ridden freight train in East Palestine, Ohio. This deeply concerning story has brought pollution and the desperate need for chemical safety to the forefront of the media, but what other pollution-related news has occurred in February 2023? This monthly round up will summarise some of the news stories in our fast-paced field that you may have missed. 

February 3rd 2023: On this fateful day at the start of the month, a freight train travelling along the Fort Wayne Line to Pennsylvania derailed following a fire beneath one of its 150 cars. Subsequently, 51 of its cars derailed and caught fire, with the blaze lasting for several days. What makes this incident so concerning is that the cars were carrying 100,000 gallons of hazardous chemicals, which were being set alight and released into the air. Following this incident, the local residents were forced to evacuate their homes, with the evacuation eventually spreading to areas of Pennsylvania. 

The local residents of East Palestine who witnessed the horrific derailment have since shared accounts of the thick, black smoke that blanketed their city. Many commented on how the smoke ‘burned their eyes’ and ‘smelled like burning plastic’. In the days following the derailment, the damage from the incident started to show. Fish in local bodies of water died, livestock fell gravely sick, and local pets became unwell- the Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimated that the derailment killed upwards of 45,000 animals. The residents themselves reported a variety of symptoms, including sore throats and headaches. 

It’s clear to see that the chemicals released from the East Palestine disaster were not safe to be exposed to. The Environmental Protection Agency released a full list of the chemicals released into the air by the derailed freight train, with the most concerning of the list being benzene, vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate and ethyl hexyl acrylate. Many of these chemicals have known toxicities associated with the symptoms experienced by the locals. For example, Benzene is known to cause sore digestive tracts and nausea whereas vinyl chloride can cause dizziness, respiratory irritation and headache. Many of these chemicals are also known carcinogens. 

It is too soon to know the long-term effects the locals exposed to these chemicals are to experience, but many are concerned that this train derailment may have caused one of the biggest chemical-related health incidents in America. 

February 9th 2023: Dr Anja Tremper from the Air Research Station of Imperial College London reported that arsenic particles were spotted in London air. This increase in airborne arsenic is believed to be the result of people burning increasing amounts of waste-wood left over from construction. A survey from DEFRA found that 9% of people who burn wood at home use waste wood. What many members of the public are unaware of is that the wood used in fences, pallets and furniture is often treated with preservatives, which contain arsenic. This arsenic becomes airborne when the wood is burned. To read more about the findings, visit DEFRAs website. 

February 14th 2023: A leak of liquid nitric acid seeped across Interstate 10 in Tucson, Arizona, following the deadly crash of a commercial tanker on February 14th. The leak led to the closure of the Interstate and the evacuation of all residents within 800 meters of the spillage. The tanker was transporting nitric acid to be used in the manufacturing of fertilizers, plastics and dyes. Early exposure to nitric acid can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes of the body. Chronic or long-term exposure to nitric acid can lead to a variety of lung diseases such as pulmonary edema, bronchitis and pneumonitis. It is hoped that the locals evacuated to the designated shelter in time for minimal health impacts from the spillage. Read more here. 

February 16th 2023: Scientists from the Australian Academy of Science have raised the alarm in relation to the country's plastic pollution problem. They stress that plastic has become an ‘astronomical’ problem and that not enough consistent data is being produced to monitor the effects. Instead, Australia’s effort to counter plastic pollution has been a citizen science driven effort. Plastic poses a threat to more than 690 marine animals that make their homes around the Australian coast, yet ¾ of the rubbish around the shoreline is plastic. Researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) estimate that 43% of shearwater birds in Eastern Australia have plastic already deposited in their gut. Read more here.

February 22nd 2023: The Environmental Working Group has released an interactive map that monitors evidence of PFAS exposure in wildlife across the globe. This map reveals that the forever chemical, found in 97% of American blood samples, is often discovered in wild animals, from boar to seabirds. With the known effects of PFAS exposure in humans, this research leads us to consider whether PFAS is affecting the health of our animal counterparts in similar ways. Researchers have already discovered the increased presence of autoimmune disorders in alligators living in PFAS contaminated water in the Cape Fear River, but more research is needed to understand the extent of animals living with PFAS in their blood. 

February 23rd 2023: The extent of PFAS on British and European waters was also revealed in February, with another map being created to track PFAS in water, soil and sediments. The map revealed PFAS substances in 17,000 sites across the UK and Europe, often in concentrations above 1,000 nanograms. The site with the highest level of PFAS contamination was identified to be in Belgium near a chemical manufacturing site in Flanders. Those who live near this site are often advised not to eat locally grown vegetables and to avoid local eggs. In the UK, the highest concentrations were located near a chemical factory near Blackpool on the River Wyre, where fish had an incredibly high volume of PFAS in their blood. This revelation has led to the UK Government admitting that it will not meet its target for waterways to have good chemical status by 2027. In many areas, these standards are unreachable until 2063. Investigate the map for yourself here.