Experts Fail to Gauge Potential Health Implications of Ohio Chemical Spill

Experts Fail to Gauge Potential Health Implications of Ohio Chemical Spill

Experts Fail to Gauge , Potential Health Implications, of Ohio Chemical Spill.

Experts Fail to Gauge , Potential Health Implications, of Ohio Chemical Spill.

ABC News reports that over a week after officials burned hazardous waste following a train derailment in Ohio, the potential health and environmental impacts remain unknown.

ABC News reports that over a week after officials burned hazardous waste following a train derailment in Ohio, the potential health and environmental impacts remain unknown.

ABC News reports that over a week after officials burned hazardous waste following a train derailment in Ohio, the potential health and environmental impacts remain unknown.

Several of the train cars contained vinyl chloride, a hazardous chemical that breaks down into hydrogen chloride and phosgene, which was used in chemical warfare in WWI.

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Vinyl chloride is classified as a known carcinogen to humans … it has been associated with a rare form of liver cancer called hepatic angiosarcoma.

So that's the main concern with the vinyl chloride, Dr. Stephanie Widmer, emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist in New York, via ABC.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breathing high levels of vinyl chloride can lead to passing out or death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breathing high levels of vinyl chloride can lead to passing out or death.

However, ABC reports that experts say determining the potential risk to the public following a disaster of this nature is difficult.

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It's always challenging to evaluate the human health risks from a chemical spill and it increases exponentially when those chemicals burn, Stephen Roberts, Ph.D., professor emeritus and former director of the Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology at the University of Florida, via ABC.

According to a statement from the Environmental Protection Agency, air monitoring has not detected any levels of concern since the fire went out on February 8.

People should be concerned when things like these do happen, but there's no need to be hysterically concerned.

The EPA is keeping everybody up to date with the information that we need to stay safe, Dr. Stephanie Widmer, emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist in New York, via ABC.

People should be concerned when things like these do happen, but there's no need to be hysterically concerned.

The EPA is keeping everybody up to date with the information that we need to stay safe, Dr. Stephanie Widmer, emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist in New York, via ABC.

According to the Ohio governor's office, water testing results showed no sign of contamination in the city's water system.

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According to the Ohio governor's office, water testing results showed no sign of contamination in the city's water system.