Ohio Residents Return Home After Chemical Leak Contained

Residents of Whitewater Township, Ohio, have been permitted to return home following the containment of a hazardous chemical leak. The evacuation was prompted on Tuesday when styrene, a toxic and flammable substance used in plastics and rubber manufacturing, began seeping from a railcar. Local authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of anyone within a half-mile radius of US Route 50 and the Great Miami River as a safety measure, leading to the closure of several local schools.

The evacuation mandate was rescinded on Wednesday night, and previously closed roads were subsequently reopened. Schools resumed operations on Thursday. The Central Railroad of Indiana confirmed that efforts to cool the leaking railcar had ceased the venting by Wednesday morning, and the railcar was safely removed without incident. Environmental monitoring continues to ensure air and water quality, with styrene posing potential short-term risks like headaches and nausea, and long-term dangers including organ damage. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)