As the process to clean up East Palestine creek contaminants continues on Sulphur and Leslie Run, outside experts said they're concerned the toxins and remediation are not keeping people from going near the streams. 

"It's my understanding that officials don't actually know the extent of the contaminations and hazards those creeks pose," Dr. Andrew Whelton, Professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental & Ecological Engineering at Purdue University, said.

EPA crews are using a process to wash out the sediments in creek beds, where toxic chemicals are attached to. 

"Stir up the sediment under the creek to get the product out from under the ground, under the creek, and introduce it to the air and again speed up that biological break downstream," Anne Vogel, Director of the Ohio EPA said. 

Dr. Natalie Kruse-Daniel, Professor & Director of the Environmental Studies Program of Ohio University said, "Aerators are purposely getting those volatile compounds and into the wair, hopefully, at a level that's low enough that isn't toxic."

Dr. Whelton said he was at the creeks just days ago to independently analyze the area and said he was concerned to see citizens walking near the creeks.

He added that given there could be a wide range of potential chemicals in the water, it poses "an immediate health risk" when there is a lack of knowledge to know just how certain toxins can impact people, in addition to effects from weather. 

"People need to stay away from this area near the creeks because during storms, there is a lot of turbulence and that causes the chemicals to jump out of the water," he said, "We saw people there walking their dogs and their kids, who said they're there because no one told them not to be."

Kruse-Daniel and Kent State University Professor and Director of Environmental Studies Dr. David Kaplan said even if time shows the possible environmental impacts are not as bad as many feared, erring on the side of caution means people should be alerted clearly of potential dangers.

"I would hope that they're testing for every possible contaminate, including dioxins and they they are warning people in the area to stay away and only come back once those waterways and soil is contaminated free," Kaplan said.