A train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 3 exposing communities to potentially hazardous chemicals such as vinyl chloride, hydrogen chloride, and ethylhexyl acrylate. The possibility of combustible chemicals exploding at any time posed an unacceptable risk to nearby towns and wildlife, according to National Wildlife Federation executive vice president Mustafa Santiago Ali. Vinyl chloride, in particular, can build enough pressure to blow apart even the most powerfully reinforced container if exposed to enough heat.

Residents of East Palestine, many of whom have expressed fear of potential long-term health effects, are calling on the White House, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the state of Ohio to take steps to ensure their safety. Investigations into the train operator, Norfolk Southern Corp., are underway and the White House has pledged to hold the company accountable. The only guaranteed way to avoid future accidents is for hazardous materials to be stopped from being transported over vast