Akron Chemical Fire Contaminates Creek, Causes Hospitalizations; Long-term Effects Unclear

A large chemical fire broke out in Akron, Ohio last Thursday and contaminated the nearby creek while sending some residents and at least one firefighter to the hospital. It took more than 36 hours to put out the fire, and over 100 firefighters were on the scene throughout that period. At least one was hospitalized, while several exhibited symptoms of acute xylene exposure. Those symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, nose and throat irritation, fatigue, and respiratory problems.

These symptoms are typical for acute xylene exposure, but according to the CDC, “No long-term effects due to acute xylene exposure have been reported.” The chemical fire also included methanol, propane, ether, and ethanol. There are no reported effects from the exposure to these chemicals in the aftermath of the fire.

Authorities say an “undisclosed number” of people were treated at the hospital because of the smoke exposure according to an Akron Beacon report on Friday. There haven’t been any follow-ups on the hospitalized citizens, but Mayor Shammas Malik said that the firefighter has been released and is expected to make a full recovery.

The fire occurred at SMB Products, a place that packages automotive lubricants and household and personal care products. According to the Ohio EPA, a creek near the site was contaminated with ethanol and methanol. The creek runs into the Tuscarawas River. Contractors have removed contaminated water with high-volume pumps, and the Ohio EPA says the water quality is within acceptable limits.

The creek and river that were contaminated are not sources of drinking water for the community. The Ohio EPA has also been collecting air samples to be tested. According to reports, an environmental consultant hired by SMB Products is “doing the work.”

While there have not been any concerning reports about air or water quality, nearby residents on social media are skeptical of the assurances given by the Ohio EPA. The HighWire reported about an alleged EPA coverup in East Palestine, Ohio, following a Norfolk Southern train derailment in February 2023.

In the aftermath of the derailment, Norfolk Southern hired contractors who were collecting samples that the EPA used to declare the surrounding areas safe. This is another situation where the company that is potentially liable for harm caused to community members is tasked with determining if the area is safe from harmful contaminants.

Anne Vogel is the director of the Ohio EPA and was appointed by Governor Mike Dewine. She previously worked as an attorney for American Electric Power (AEP) before joining Governor Dewine’s administration as a policy director. The Energy and Policy Institute reported in 2020 about gifts Vogel and Dewine from a “dark money” group associated with AEP.

Vogel took the director position just a month before the train derailment in East Palestine. The HighWire spoke with independent evaluator Scott Smith in June about the current conditions at the derailment site. Smith described a collusion, portraying the EPA as the public relations arm of Norfolk Southern.

Smith said the NS hired contractors were cherry-picking locations to get positive results and ultimately saying there was “nothing to see here.” Smith also said the area surrounding the derailment should be declared a superfund site. Early this year, Vogel said “This is not a long-term tag on this town. This isn’t a case where we’re going to have contamination affecting human health and the environment for years to come.”

The federal and Ohio EPA agencies have lost trust with much of the public in Ohio and independent evaluators, including Smith, George Thompson, and others. The lawyers who negotiated the settlement on behalf of the residents have been accused of covering up testing data because they are receiving a large payout for their work in settling the case. Instead, they brought in Arch Carson, a toxicologist who formerly worked for Dow Chemical, Enbridge, Chevron, and Exxon Mobil.

“Based on what my scientific team, everything we have done and analyzed, it surely appears that Arch Carson is only making his opinion solely based on EPA testing data,” Smith said. “We do know the EPA testing data is all Norfolk-paid contractor data.”

Now that the Ohio EPA is relying on contractors hired by SMB Products to evaluate the toxicity of the local area, many are skeptical that the results will be accurate. The evacuation order was lifted five hours after the fire began in Akron. In total, the fire burned on for about 48 hours before it was fully extinguished.

Residents were able to return to their homes three days after the East Palestine train derailment. Many of these residents experienced rashes, difficulty breathing, and other significant health conditions as a result, but the EPA told them that it was safe to return.

One Akron resident described a “weird smell and taste” during the 48 hours the fire was blazing. The resident also said the fire happened next to low-income housing, which was the subject of a Status Coup report in 2022 about inhabitable conditions. That includes maggot and termite infestations as well as black mold. Residents in East Palestine have reportedly felt stuck for not being able to afford to leave the area following the train derailment in 2023.

It is unknown whether there are significant or long-term health impacts from the Akron chemical fire.