(GreatGameIndia) In East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3, a train operated by Norfolk Southern Railroad derailed, releasing poisonous vapors into the atmosphere and water systems.
Soon after, authorities ordered an emergency evacuation, although residents have since returned. Despite reports of wildlife deaths in the impacted area, the disaster has been downplayed by the media, and the Environmental Protection Agency has ruled the water “safe to drink.”
At this point, it appears that even the CDC is downplaying the impact of the crash’s toxins, including vinyl chloride, a gas used to create the material polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Vinyl chloride is a known carcinogen that has been linked to a variety of cancers, including lung, liver, brain, lymphoma, and leukemia, according to the National Cancer Institute.
I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but why did the CDC update their profile for vinyl chloride 11 DAYS before the train crash in Ohio?
— James Bradley (@JamesBradleyCA) February 15, 2023
The original standards for vinyl chloride’s toxicological profile were published in the Federal Register on April 17, 1987, and were updated in January 2023 (pdf below). Although toxicological profiles are occasionally updated, people are concerned by the strange timing. Vinyl chloride’s most recent profile was published in 2006, which was 17 years ago. It’s odd that they revised it just weeks before the disaster in East Palestine, in January 2023.
The vinyl chloride page on the CDC website has also recently undergone changes. An older version shows a FAQ page that was lengthier and more in-depth prior to the revisions. A lengthy list of FAQs with more information may be seen in the screenshot below. The sections “How can vinyl chloride impact children?” and “Has the federal government issued suggestions to protect human health?” were originally present in the profile, but both have subsequently been eliminated.
The initial description in the section on children read, “It has not been proven that vinyl chloride causes birth defects in humans, but studies in animals suggest that vinyl chloride might affect growth and development. Animal studies also suggest that infants and young children might be more susceptible than adults to vinyl chloride-induced cancer.” This information seems crucial, especially considering that families reside near the oil blast zone. Why then would they take this down?
Well, well, no big deal. The CDC has included a new section on vinyl chloride protection for you and your family. Their suggestion? Reduce the amount of cigar and cigarette smoke you consume. Limiting your family’s exposure to cigarette or cigar smoke may help lower their exposure to vinyl chloride, the page states. “Tobacco smoke contains low levels of vinyl chloride.” Additional minor adjustments were made, as described by Reddit user @thedaly, and the previous FAQ section may be viewed here.
The company behind the East Palestine train derailment skipped a meeting where residents demanded answers.
Norfolk Southern said it feared violence.
Toxic chemicals leaked into soil, water and the air. Residents report irritation and dead animals. State officials say it is safe. pic.twitter.com/F7X8zJWBso— AJ+ (@ajplus) February 16, 2023
