Students and Faculty at the Mount Share Thoughts on Environmental Crises after Ohio Spill
By Katie Holgerson | Observer Contributor
Following a recent train derailment in Ohio, there are growing concerns over the potential health and environmental impacts caused by the spillage of hazardous chemicals such as vinyl chloride and butyl acetate into nearby rivers.
The incident occurred on February 3rd, 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio, causing all the town residents to evacuate due to the hazardous chemicals involved. In addition to public health concerns, the derailment caused an explosion and spillage of chemicals into nearby rivers, leading to the death of several fish. Efforts to control the situation through a controlled burn resulted in several chemicals being released into the atmosphere. Concerns have risen as people on social media have reported that the air in the area smelled of chlorine and chemicals, although the government assured the area was safe to return. It is worth noting that studies show the younger generation, including 32% of Gen Z and 28% of Millennials, are more concerned about global warming and other environmental issues and have taken actions for the planet in 2021.
The Ohio chemical spill was a major environmental disaster that had a significant impact on the local community and beyond. As students reflected on this event, many expressed their concerns about the long-term effects of the spill on human health and how the U.S handles such situations.
Gear Renton, an environmental science major at the Mount, chimed in on the topic while hanging out in the student center. “They should’ve been more cautious on what happened, and [they] put the whole nation at danger since the Ohio river is connected to a lot of the water sources.” Renton worried the chemicals could reach Massachusetts. She went on to say, “Once it’s in the river it’s everywhere, plant life— everywhere.”
Another MWCC student Devon Gaughan showed his concern for how the U.S handles situations like this and how he is scared of what could happen in the future with other disasters like the chemical spill, saying, “It makes me wonder what we [as a society] depend on” for resources.
Gear shared the concern and wished that more precautions had been taken, pointing out a shift since observing the way the environment started to improve during COVID as a sharp contrast to feelings about the oil spill. She lamented the reported increase in pollution as people started coming out of quarantine. “If everyone works together, it’s not hard to fix it… it was sad to see everything go back after.”
Associate Professor of Natural Sciences George LoCasio is not as concerned as some students are here because of the geographic distance. “The water there flows west, and for wind borne particles, I feel they would diffuse more than enough if they even got here at all,” he explained. Regardless, the Ohio chemical spill serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible environmental stewardship and the need for continued efforts to protect our planet and its inhabitants.
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