On February 3, nearly 50 cars of a train went off track in Ohio, causing a fire that burned for days. 10 of the 50 derailed cars contained hazardous chemicals including butyl acrylate and vinyl chloride, which were among combustible liquids that authorities feared could set off a major explosion.
Local officials have insisted that the air and water quality has not been impacted by this accident, but the dead fish popping up in the town would beg to differ. According to NPR, “When vinyl chloride is exposed in the environment, it breaks down from sunlight within a few days and changes into other chemicals such as formaldehyde. When it is spilled in soil or surface water, the chemical evaporates into the air quickly, according to the Ohio Department of Health.”
A verified GoFundMe on how to help the animals in the area can be found here.
