Yes, the mandatory evacuation was lifted – coordinated by local, state, and federal officials – on February 8.

Air monitoring – general and in-home air monitoring being conducted by contractors in conjunction with the Ohio EPA and the U.S. EPA – has not shown any detections of substances related to the incident and does not indicate a health risk.

Our toxicology experts tell us the odor is non-carcinogenic and does not cause a rash. Some of the substances associated with the derailment can be smelled even when instrument air monitoring findings are non-detect or below levels of concern. Air monitoring in the community is ongoing and will continue until clean-up is complete.

Contractors in conjunction with the Ohio EPA and the U.S. EPA are performing continuous air monitoring for the substances associated with the derailment and fire. Results do not indicate a health risk.

No – Air monitoring in the community has not shown any detections of vinyl chloride or levels of any other substances that would indicate a risk for children, the elderly, or individuals with medical conditions. Air monitoring in the community is ongoing and will continue until clean-up is complete.

While an initial loss of fish did occur due to spillage at Sulphur Run, no endangered species perished, and the contamination is contained and being remediated.

More information can be found at ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine.

To date, officials have not seen any impact to the livestock community that causes concerns.

Officials have not detected any vinyl chloride in any downgradient water ways, and are no longer seeing low levels of other contaminants. Initially, officials detected low levels of contaminants and communicated to the public that proactive treatments are eliminating the risk before it occurs to consumers along the Ohio River.

Results from the Columbiana County Health District continuous water testing of the East Palestine municipal well have showed no water quality concerns, and based on test results, Governor DeWine issued a press release stating the municipal water is safe to consume.

Because private water wells may be closer to the surface than the municipal water wells, the Ohio EPA recommends that those who receive drinking water from private water wells schedule an appointment for well water testing by an independent consultant.

For information on how to schedule your private water well for testing, call 330-849-3919. The Ohio Department of Health encourages those with private wells to use bottled water until their well water testing results are returned.

More information can be found at ema.ohio.gov/eastpalestine.

First and foremost, residents should know that the downstream creeks and streams do not supply drinking water, so any impact to the surface water does not pose a threat to your drinking water.

The water quality in Sulfur Run continues to be impacted because an impoundment was created on Feb. 8, when Sulfur Run was rerouted using a dam and pump, to isolate the area contaminated by the train derailment. This ensures no additional contaminants would move downstream and allows contractors to focus on removing the contaminants from the section of Sulfur Run that was affected. That process is underway to fully remediate the impacted waterway, and officials are urging residents to avoid the area.

While smoke from any type of fire can exacerbate asthma or other breathing difficulties, no long-term effect is expected from short-term exposure. Only very high concentrations of vinyl chloride or other substances may affect someone’s asthma, but any aggravation of asthma is expected to be transient and short-term, with no persistent or long-term effects. None of these substances are known to cause asthma.

Based on the air monitoring data collected, your pets should not have been affected by the derailment. If you feel that your pet needs medical attention because of the incident, you should contact your local veterinarian. They have been briefed by Ohio state officials on how to report such instances.

Food would not be affected by the incident, and you can safely eat any non-spoiled food that is in your home. You should, however, follow normal food safety procedures and make sure not to eat any food that has spoiled.

It is safe to turn on your furnace and return to normal household activities. You do not have to change your furnace filter unless you want to.

Air monitoring indicates no danger to your house plants, trees, shrubs, or lawns. Based on the air monitoring data collected, your plants and vegetation should not have been affected by the derailment.

No – At no point has air monitoring detected vinyl chloride. N-butyl acrylate has a low odor threshold, meaning that you can smell it at even lower concentrations than detectable by air monitoring equipment. While odors have been reported in the community, air monitoring data continue to indicate that there are no unsafe levels of substances in the air. Some people may notice an odor when re-entering their home after evacuation due to stale odors from the house sitting undisturbed, closed up tightly, and uninhabited for several days. If you encounter an odor that concerns you, you can open the windows and/or doors to promote ventilation. If you live within the evacuation zone, you also have the voluntary option of having the air in and around your home monitored by a re-entry air monitoring team.

We have not ourselves seen evidence of long-term health effects, but we continue to listen to the experts. The community and in-home air monitoring data shows no exposure to dangerous chemicals that could lead to long-term risks. This is true of both residents who live near to and those who live far from the incident site.