The Ohio train derailment chemical spill took place on the Ohio/Pennsylvania border in the town of East Palestine. Chemical contaminants include vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monobutyl ethers. These entered a creek that flows into the Ohio River.
They are now flowing down the length of the river and will enter the Mississippi River. Concentrations will become diluted as other rivers enter the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Cities along the Ohio that use river water are shutting off their intakes as the chemical toxins pass by, meanwhile drawing on other sources of water. This is intended to protect people.
If you’re immediately downstream of the site of the spill potential groundwater contamination may contaminate water quality until it is completely removed, assuming that happens. Those farther downstream may continue to have minor contaminant loads as will be evaluated by USEPA in the days ahead. Do keep in mind that EPA standards may not be satisfactory.
Two of these chemicals, vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate, are volatile organic compounds and can be removed by a whole house carbon filter. Isobutylene is a hydrocarbon and would require a special filter to remove it. Ethylene glycol is typically removed by reverse osmosis.
I was unable to find any definitive information on ethylhexyl acrylate other than it is a clear odorless liquid.
If your water source is the Ohio or Mississippi Rivers you ought to be using a whole house carbon filter as well as reverse osmosis at the sink for many other reasons, including pharmaceuticals in your drinking water. I hope you find this useful.
