Are odors from the derailment site dangerous?
As site work continues and waste is shipped off-site for disposal, there may be times where odors can be smelled. In general, many substances can cause odors in the outdoor air but not be at levels that can harm your health, but they can still affect your quality of life. For example, n-butyl acrylate has a distinct odor even at very low concentrations. This odor threshold is much lower than the exposure concentrations associated with potential health effects. Part of EPA’s air monitoring network includes sampling devices and driving the Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer, or TAGA, mobile laboratory around the derailment site and nearby neighborhoods during active work hours to monitor the air for levels of potential health concern.