The Environmental Impact of Ohio Train Derailment

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The Environmental Impact of Ohio Train Derailment.
Disasters can have a major impact on the environment, especially when hazardous waste is involved. The Ohio train derailment is one of the major examples of how much waste can affect the environment. On February 3rd, a train carrying various toxic materials derailed in Palestine, Ohio. A controlled fire took place over the next few days following the derailment. The fires led to more release of toxic gases into the air. The authorities evacuated people living within a mile radius of the incident to save lives and prevent long-term implications. Unfortunately, there was nothing much that could be done to save the environment from the long-term impact. The derailment affected the environment by causing soil, water, and air pollution.
One of the major environmental impacts of the derailment was the pollution of nearby water sources. This was indicated by the massive death of aquatic life. When chemical spills mix with water, they interfere with the natural habitat, thus creating an unconducive environment for the animals to thrive in. For instance, the spills can block oxygen from getting inside the water. Aquatic animals rely on oxygen for survival, and if deprived, they would die. In addition to the impact of toxic chemicals, this was the major impact on aquatic life following the derailment. After the spill of the chemical components transported by the cars, a fire broke out and burned for several days. The spillage entered the Ohio River, and scientists are concerned that the chemicals will cause large effects. As of February 23rd, approximately 43000 aquatic animals had died from the accidents. Experts pointed out that the chemicals in the water might be converted into different compounds by the sun and consumed by aquatic life. This creates the potentiality of long-term water pollution in the Ohio River. Scientists highly rely on the fish community to determine whether there is water pollution in a specific area. Therefore, the mass death of fish is the first indication of water pollution. This was a common occurrence after the Ohio train derailment. The authorities are in the process of testing water from nearby sources to ensure that it is safe for consumption. They advised residents with private wells not to drink the water until they received results regarding the condition of this water.
CH2=CHCl + H2O → CH3CHO + HCl

The train derailment also created massive soil pollution. Unfortunately, Soil pollution, following similar accidents, is the hardest thing to detect. Tests have to be done in the laboratories to establish the extent of soil pollution. Sometimes, these tastes can take longer than expected as soil pollution continues to affect microorganisms. In the event of rain, the toxins in the soil get washed to the nearby water sources, thus causing more water pollution. During the clean-up exercise after the Ohio train derailment, the soil under the rails was not removed. The railway has since been opened, and this raises questions as to whether the soil would cause more environmental impacts. The authorities said that the railway would be removed to facilitate the removal of all the contamina...