On February 3, a freight train hauling toxic chemicals through eastern Ohio derailed and set aflame, and smoke quickly billowed over the nearby town of East Palestine. As the threat of an explosion loomed as large as the smoke plume, authorities opted for a controlled release of the train’s contents. East Palestine residents evacuated their homes, and on February 6 that order extended to surrounding parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Some residents reported headaches, rashes, coughs, and other symptoms of chemical exposure.
