More than 50 New Jersey residents have filed a lawsuit against the operator of a train that crashed into Mantua Creek in November 2012.

One of the cars released gaseous vinyl chloride, a chemical that can cause nausea and breathing problems (Greenwire, Nov. 30, 2012).

The residents say they suffered from chest pains and coughing fits after exposure and want compensation and medical surveillance.

Two other suits were filed against the operator, Consolidated Rail Corp., in the past month. The latest suit alleges that Conrail "put safety aside for the sake of profit."

The suit also claims that untrained emergency responders aggregated the problem by allowing residents to proceed through a toxic cloud (Andrew Seidman, Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 9). -- MM