Right on the heels of the recent disastrous train derailment and subsequent chemical exposure in East Palestine, Ohio, was a semi-truck accident on Interstate 10 near Kolb Road in Tucson, Arizona, that also released a very dangerous chemical. Both incidents resulted in the hurried evacuation of citizens in concerned areas.

While the extent of the danger is still being studied in Ohio, among the symptoms being reported by residents are skin irritations, difficulty breathing, gastric pain and diarrhea, and headaches. Wildlife in the area is under immediate threat, with dead fish and frogs floating in the rivers and other wildlife and pets in distress. The ongoing threat of cancer from many of these chemicals is frightening, to say the least.

Chemicals involved in the Ohio incident include:

• Vinyl chloride – a highly volatile colorless gas known to cause angiosarcoma of the liver and cancers of other sites in both laboratory animals and humans.
• Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether – can cause irritation in the eyes, skin, nose and throat, as well as nervous system depression, headache, vomiting, and blood in the urine. Case studies listed in this CDC report are alarming, with reports of suicide attempts following exposure (page 25 of report).
• Ethylhexyl acrylate – listed by NIOSH as a potential carcinogenic, can cause burning and irritation of the eyes and skin, irritate the nose and throat, resulting in shortness of breath and coughing. Toxicity studies showed that the substance is absorbed through the skin and can cause systemic toxicity including body weight depression (page 5, summary of report).
• Isobutylene – highly flammable, this chemical targets the body’s central nervous and can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and narcosis. High levels can cause coma or death.
• Phosgene and hydrogen chloride – emitted in the large plumes of smoke during the controlled release and burn that were conducted by authorities. According to the CDC, phosgene is a colorless gas with a suffocating odor like musty hay. Exposure to phosgene may cause irritation to the eyes, dry burning throat, vomiting, cough, foamy sputum, breathing difficulty, and chest pain. Hydrogen chloride can irritate the skin, nose, eyes, throat, and larynx.

>>You’ll find the complete list of chemicals involved in the Ohio incident HERE.

In the Tucson, Arizona, accident on Valentine’s Day 2023, the Arizona Department of Public Safety reported chemical involved in the semi-truck spill was nitric acid. According to the CDC, exposure to nitric acid can cause irritation to the eyes, skin, and mucous membrane and can also cause delayed pulmonary edema, pneumonitis, bronchitis, and even dental erosion.

Immediate Steps You Can Take for Chemical Exposures

While the full effects of the chemicals ingested by humans, fish, and animals as a result of these accidents may not be known for some time, it is imperant that you take immediate steps to protect yourself and your family from further exposure and to mitigate the effects of these toxins as much as possible.

This list is not intended as a total remedy for chemical exposure, but is suggestive of remedies that may be helpful.

• Bentonite Clay – this extraordinary substance has been used for centuries as a potent detoxifier and is a virtual magnet for pulling contaminants from the body. It has the power to attract positively charged particles or toxins, including uranium, and to suck them out of the body. After the Chernobyl disaster, farmers used Bentonite clay to decontaminate their animals. U.S. Army studies indicate that Bentonite is a successful treatment for chemical warfare exposure. There are many forms of Bentonite clay, and you’ll want to choose one that does not contain chemical emulsifiers or aluminum (source: Enviromedica: Bentonite Clay and Environmental Toxins)
• Activated Charcoal – used by hospitals for years, activated charcoal “adsorbs many noxious substances—medical drugs, phytotoxins and poisonous chemicals—onto its surface, preventing their absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. As a secondary decontamination mechanism, it interrupts a potential enterohepatic and/or enteroenteric circulation.” (source: Deutsches Arzteblatt International)
• Far-Infrared Saunas – these saunas are effective in ridding the body of excess toxins, including chemicals, heavy metals, and even radioactive particles (source: The Benefits of A Good Sweat). In my book, I Used to Have Cancer, I wrote about the benefits of far-infrared saunas and mentioned an article in the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients in which Dr. Lawrence Wilson wrote, “If I were to single out one method to combat cancer, it is the sauna. It assists removal of chemical toxins and heavy metals, increases oxygenation, enhances the immune system, and reduces the radiation burden in the body.”
• Detoxifying Baths – first introduced by Dr. Hazel Parcells, her legendary detox baths are now included in the Smithsonian Institute. There are four particularly notable detox bath “recipes” that include ingredients you may already have at home. Find the instructions at THIS link: Ann Louise Gittleman: Bathe Away Toxins.
• Clean, Filtered Water – purified drinking water is vital at all times, but never as important as when you’re dealing with contamination of any kind. Now is the time you need a filter not only for your drinking water, but for your whole house. After all, who wants to cook with questionable water straight from the tap… or bathe their children or themselves in it? I personally recommend you give Dr. Roy Speiser at Clean Water Revival a call. For over 35 years, he has championed the cause to mitigate air and waterborne toxins through consumer education, and the use of reliable filtration technologies. CWR Environmental Products has become a “go-to” source for trending environmental news, filtration expertise, and innovative products. In addition, CWR provides top-of-the-line, trustworthy air filtering systems for your home or business.

Related:

Deep Heating Your Way Out of Cancer: The Promise of Far Infrared Saunas

Bathe Away Toxins

Resources:

Kerr K, Morse G, Graves D, Zuo F, Lipowicz A, Carpenter DO. A Detoxification Intervention for Gulf War Illness: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Oct 28;16(21):4143. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16214143. PMID: 31661809; PMCID: PMC6862571.

Zellner T, Prasa D, Färber E, Hoffmann-Walbeck P, Genser D, Eyer F. The Use of Activated Charcoal to Treat Intoxications. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019 May 3;116(18):311-317. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2019.0311. PMID: 31219028; PMCID: PMC6620762.

Julia Jacobo, “There were more toxic chemicals on train that derailed in Ohio than originally reported, data shows,” ABC News (Feb 13, 2023). https://abcnews.go.com/US/toxic-chemicals-train-derailed-ohio-originally-reported-data/story?id=97080179

Raymond Zhong and Catrin Einhorn, “Health and Environmental Fears Remain After Ohio Derailment and Inferno,” The New York Times (Feb 14, 2023). https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/climate/ohio-train-derailment-chemical-spill-health.html