by John M. Williams, Sr., M.D., American Thinker:
Recently, there were two major train wrecks in East Palestine, Ohio—one literal, on February 3rd, and the second, figurative—the fumbling response to the disaster.
Vinyl chloride, phosgene and hydrogen chloride gases, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were released into the air, soil and water. Even though the “all-clear” was sounded on February 8th, residents are still uncertain whether their health has been compromised, if their homes are safe to occupy and if their water is fit to drink—especially given the new concerns about dioxins and acrolein.
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The arrest of a reporter at a press conference didn’t help things, and when it came time for the principals of Norfolk Southern to attend a town hall, they were no-shows.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg did not acknowledge the disaster until several days had passed, and President Biden also waited before calling the mayor. Despite Gov. Mike DeWine’s multiple requests, FEMA claimed that the community was not eligible for assistance—fortunately, this decision was reversed, but not until two critical weeks had passed.
Even the Chinese Foreign Ministry mocked Washington’s response, calling it #OhioChernobyl. One would hope there was not some other agenda in play—with more than 70% of Columbiana County voters casting their ballots for President Trump in 2020; this is definitely “MAGA country”. 
With risk communication, you never have a second chance to make a first impression, so it is no surprise that many residents of East Palestine have already “lawyered up,” but when they sought guidance about their personal health issues, they were told to call their medical providers. The average primary care doctor has minimal training in toxicology, and may not know the correct lab tests to order. Although there were potential health concerns almost immediately after the derailment, it took two weeks before a community clinic was set up in a local church by the Ohio Department of Health, initially staffed by nurses and a toxicologist.
This delay is why residents should have been permitted to see independent physicians of their choice right away, specifically, doctors trained in occupational and environmental medicine. It is important to do a baseline exam with lab testing for those exposed to vinyl chloride, as well as VOC’s such as: ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, isobutylene and but
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