Dr. Dennis Summers, State Veterinarian for Ohio, issued a press release on the effects of the February 3rd train derailment in East Palestine, OH and the subsequent February 5th controlled burn of the contents of five tank cars. Approximately, 120,000 gallons of vinyl chloride was combusted. In his statement, Dr. Summers noted that air quality testing conducted by the U. S. EPA failed to detect contaminants in the air in the vicinity of the derailment site.
Discussions with local veterinarians have not disclosed reports of illness in pets or the death of livestock or poultry that could be attributed to the accident and its aftermath. Dr. Summers called reports of dying animals “largely anecdotal, i
naccurate and over exaggerated”. It is a matter of record that minnows in Bull Creek flowing into the north fork of Little Beaver Creek near the derailment site died in large numbers as a result of chemical contamination.
The Ohio Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory will conduct necropsies and subsequent tissue analysis on animals submitted by owners, or free-living birds or mammals submitted by State Wildlife or Department of Agriculture agents.