Today, President Joe Biden visited East Palestine, Ohio, the site of the tragic train derailment that led to the release and burn off of multiple highly toxic chemicals, including more than 115,000 gallons of vinyl chloride—a potent carcinogen.
Although a full year has passed since this chemical disaster, East Palestine residents are still struggling with the physical, mental, and economic fallout. They don’t just want answers—they want action. What we at Moms Clean Air Force know all too well is that what happened in East Palestine is not an isolated incident. In 2023, there were no less than 322 hazardous chemical incidents in the U.S. alone. Even though few make national headlines, all have the potential to be devastating to the impacted families.
As Moms’ Director and Co-Founder Dominique Browning writes in a statement in response to President Biden’s visit: “We are glad to see that President Biden has traveled to East Palestine, Ohio, to shine a spotlight on what amounts to a double tragedy. The first is the immediate, short-term impact the toxic spill has on the children, families, and towns in the immediate vicinity. The second is both the physical and mental toll that these toxic chemicals take on the long-term well-being of those exposed, as the effects of such carcinogens often take years to materialize.”
That’s why Moms are working overtime to demand that our leaders establish strong petrochemical protections. With quick action, our leaders can prevent a disaster like this from happening again. Dominique writes: “Let the tragedy in East Palestine be a lesson to our nation now and in the future.”
Moms are urging the president and EPA to start by banning vinyl chloride, which still threatens the health of millions as it is transported across the country, according to a new report from Toxic-Free Future. So far, we have submitted nearly 21,500 comments (and counting) to EPA in support of banning this dangerous petrochemical. With safer alternatives available, we need vinyl chloride out of our communities now.