Jordan Chariton from Status Coup recently sat down with East Palestine, Ohio, whistleblower Christina Siceloff to discuss a significant discovery. Christina revealed that she had texted Mark Durno, head of the EPA effort in East Palestine, about a dig they were conducting. Durno responded that they were digging up vinyl chloride, a highly toxic and cancer-causing chemical.

Christina observed EPA workers digging near the train tracks. This led her to reach out to Mark Durno. He confirmed that they had detected vinyl chloride in the soil, contradicting earlier claims that the chemical had disappeared after the train derailment in February 2023.

Christina and other residents have experienced severe health issues since the incident. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, bloody stools, seizures, and even cancer. Despite these ongoing health problems, the EPA and Norfolk Southern have maintained that the area is safe.

The EPA has not provided detailed information about the levels of vinyl chloride detected or the exact date of detection, only stating it was found in “early spring.” This lack of transparency raises questions about what else might be hidden from the public.