West Virginia is incessantly affected by the chemical spill

Since World War I, the Kanawha River Valley had been the major producers of volatile and other chemical products that surround potentially toxic materials. Due to high concentration of chemical manufactures and storage facilities along its bank, Kanawha River Valley had earned the epithet of Chemical Valley. In the last five year, the recent incident of chemical spill in West Virginia was noted as the third incident. For nearly a century, Chemical Valley was home to the largest concentration of chemical plants in U.S.

The coal-cleansing chemical that spilled from Freedom Industries storage tank into the Elk River on 09th January 2014 had affected nearly nine countries in West Virginia as the river was the only source of drinking water. More than 200,000 people in West Virginia were asked not to drink, cook or shower with the water, as a large scale of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCMH) chemical leaked into the Elk River near Charleston. The chemical used as a foaming agent to wash certain types of coal before it is sent to market.

According to the research analyst, the chemical is not toxic but is harmful if swallowed and can cause irritation to skin and eyes if one comes in contact. Also, foul smell from the tap water can cause of stress and nausea. Nearly 300,000 people were affected by this incident and moreover around 100,000 and more were without water. With the huge amount of chemical spilled in the river has almost affected the economic production where restaurant and hotels were forced to shut down. Also, patients admitted in the hospitals had to suffer due to contaminated water and the surgeons have cancelled their surgeries till the problem is solved. Freedom Industries is feeling the pressure from the local residents of West Virginia. According to the President of Freedom Industries, their team has been working round the clock since the discovery to contain the leak to prevent further contamination.

According to the residents of West Virginia, no much changes seen on behalf of all the industrial incidents and accidents. If we look back to the year 2008, similar explosion had occurred at Bayer CropScience Institute, where explosion of pesticides waste tank released toxic fumes and killed two workers. After this incident, the federal Chemical Safety Board recommended new state and federal safety regulations. After two years in 2010, the same incident had occurred with one of the major chemical company DuPont, where highly toxic phosgene was released resulting in the death of a plant worker. After this accidental release the safety board returned to West Virginia and new safety oversight was once again urged. However these measures were found a bit supportive in the capital in Charleston.

According to the Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, currently their high priorities are hospitals, nursing homes and schools and the Governor has been working with their National Guard and Office of Emergency Services in an endeavor of providing water and supplies through the state emergency services offices as fast as possible.

Consequently, the government of West Virginia must take firm actions on such incidents that are continuously hammering the health of the local residents staying in West Virginia.

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