CONTINUING COVERAGE
The most common symptoms among East Palestine residents who completed a health assess- ment after the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment included headaches, anxiety, coughing, fatigue/tired- ness and irritation, pain or burning of skin,
Late Friday afternoon, Gov. Mike DeWine’s office released the results of the survey done by federal, state and local officials. Residents completed an “after chemical exposure” community survey — with 168 questionnaires completed — aimed at providing information on how people may be impacted by the train derailment.
Residents answered the surveys when they visited the East Palestine Health Assessment Clinic, which is run by the Ohio Department of Health and the Columbi- ana County Health District, as well as during door-to- door visits by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services representatives.
Among the top five most common responses:
125 residents reported headaches, or 74% of respon- dents
108 residents reported anxiety, 64%
103 residents reported coughing, 61%
97 residents reported fatigue or tiredness, 58%
88 residents reported irritation, pain or burning of the skin, 52%
The respondents’ median age was 57, and most respon- dents were over 18, the statement said.
The Health Department officials will use the infor- mation to better understand how the derailment may be impacting residents, and determine appropriate public health responses, the statement said.
The health clinic will be open next week. Patients determined to need ongo- ing care are being referred to specialist doctors. Certified counselors are available at the clinic.
Thirty-eight railcars were derailed in East Palestine, with 11 tank cars carrying hazardous materials — including vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monbutyl ether. Fearing rising temperatures would cause the vinyl chloride tanks to explode, officials burned them, sending up an enormous pillar of thick black smoke that has concerned residents and terrified many across the nation who saw video and photos of the smoke.
Roughly 43 , 700 fish and aquatic life in nearby streams, which drain into the Ohio River, were killed, according to state estimates.
The Village of East Palestine is expected to soon post signs advising people to stay out of local waterways where testing and cleaning are taking place. The “KEEP OUT” signs will be installed near the public park, the train derailment site and elsewhere throughout the village.