CNN en Español anchor says symptoms from Ohio train derailment due to "the power of suggestion"

During a report on the visit of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to East Palestine, Ohio, CNN en Español anchor Juan Carlos Lopez suggested that people are experiencing symptoms near the site of the toxic train derailment because of the “power of suggestion” instead of the toxic chemicals that were spilled, according to an analysis by the Media Research Center. 

On Feb. 3, a 150-car train derailed in East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border, resulting in a fire. Eleven of the derailed cars were carrying large quantities of toxic chemicals, including vinyl chloride, which spilled after the the accident.

The chemical and other toxic substances have spread into nearby air and water, raising environmental and health concerns with the area’s residents. Since the accident, many have complained about headaches, burning lungs, nasal drainage, unknown rashes, and irritated eyes, as well as other conditions such as acute bronchitis.

Others have found several dying or sick pets or wildlife, which they attribute to the hazardous chemicals that spilled from the train. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, at least 43,700 animals have died in the vicinity of the accident.

“They say that they feel dizziness, watery eyes, throat discomfort when they're there, not when they leave town, but the power of suggestion is also great. We'll see what happens. Thank you very much. Gustavo Valdés, reporting from Atlanta,” Lopez said at the end of his report. 

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited East Palestine last Thursday, almost three weeks after the derailment.

During his visit, he met with federal personnel that is responding to the derailment and its aftermath, including staff from the Federal Railroad Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.