The Australian News Network reported on the 13th that the problem of toxic gas diffusion caused by this incident has led to poisoning symptoms such as cough, diarrhea, tears and anorexia in nearby animals.

    About 50 carriages of the freight train involved in the accident derailed in East Palestinian City, a small town near Pennsylvania in the eastern part of Ohio on the evening of the 3rd, triggering a fire. According to Norfolk South, the operator, there were 10 cars loaded with toxic chemicals. The staff found on the 5th that the pressure relief device of 5 cars loaded with compressed vinyl chloride stopped working, and one of the cars had a "sharp temperature change", showing the risk of explosion.

    On the 6th, in order to avoid catastrophic consequences, Norfolk South decided to carry out the so-called "controlled release" operation on the above five carriages, and local residents were forced to evacuate. On the 9th, residents were informed that they could return to their residence. Although the relevant departments stressed that there was no pollution, according to the United States, some residents returned to their homes with symptoms such as headache and nausea, and the response measures of the relevant government departments also worried the people.

    Phosgene and hydrogen chloride are toxic gases produced by the explosion and combustion of vinyl chloride. It is reported that phosgene can cause vomiting and dyspnea, and was used as a chemical weapon in the First World War.