cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/23427696

A leak of styrene, a chemical used in plastic and rubber production, was discovered Tuesday afternoon in Whitewater Township, Ohio.

  • InevitableSwing [none/use name]
    ·
    2 months ago

    The incident that was on many residents’ minds following Tuesday’s accident was more recent. In February 2023, a Norfolk Southern railcar carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, setting off fires and leading to a controlled chemical burn of vinyl chloride, a carcinogen. Chemicals released that week spread to 16 states, later research showed. East Palestine is some 300 miles from Whitewater Township.

    Following Tuesday’s accident, local residents worried that they wouldn’t get the cleanup help they needed.

    “We are Hooven, Ohio,” said Greer, a fourth-generation resident. “They will ignore us.”