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BioLab fire in Conyers causes haze, chemical smell in Atlanta


A large plume of smoke rises in Conyers during a fire at the BioLab chemical plant on Sunday, Sept. 29. (Photo via Rockdale County)

Rockdale County reinstated a shelter-in-place order on Tuesday morning as the fire at the BioLab facility continues to send a cloud of chlorine-filled smoke into the air.

Rockdale had lifted the shelter-in-place order Monday night but reissued the order as wind patterns dispersed the plume.

“We ask that you shelter in place if the plume moves over your vicinity or if there is a strong odor of chlorine,” Rockdale officials said in a statement. “If you have respiratory issues, we encourage you to shelter in place. We will provide an update as quickly as possible.”

The Georgia Poison Center has created a hotline for calls relating to symptoms. If you have symptoms that may be related – such as nose, throat, or eye irritation, or difficulty breathing – call your health provider or the Georgia Poison Center at 404-856-6252.

The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department is conducting additional testing of our air quality in Atlanta, according to a notification sent by the city at about 8:30 a.m.

The city said it continues to await additional health guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health. Visit 
https://dph.georgia.gov for more health-related information.

For the latest info from EPA, view live data from the site visit https://www.epa.gov/ga/conyers-ga-biolab-fire.

Original Story

Atlanta and Fulton County officials said Monday morning they are investigating reports of a “haze and strong chemical smell” caused by a fire at a Conyers chemical plant over the weekend.

Air quality tests have come back within “acceptable levels” and do not pose life-threatening issues, according to the city of Atlanta.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency issued a public safety alert shortly before 2 p.m. about the air quality in metro Atlanta, saying chemical levels are “unlikely to cause harm to most people.”

BioLab, a chemical plant that manufactures pool and spa chemicals, caught fire on Sunday. The fire and chemical reactions created a large plume of smoke seen for miles. About 17,000 Rockdale residents were evacuated from the area. State and federal environmental agencies said they detected chlorine in the air from the chemical fire.

A portion of Interstate 20 was shut down on Sunday, but reopened Monday morning. Rockdale residents are being urged to shelter in place, to turn off the air conditioner and keep windows and doors shut.

BioLab said in a written statement it is working with first responders, local authorities and teams from out of state to remediate the situation as quickly as possible.

And while the lab is 24 miles southeast of Atlanta, Rough Draft has received reports from around the metro – including Kirkwood, Reynoldstown, Tucker, Decatur and Summerhill – about haze and the smell of chlorine in the air.

Monday afternoon, the city of Atlanta issued a news release saying air quality tests conducted by the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department in the city “have come back within acceptable levels.”

AFRD is focusing on potential volatile organic compounds, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, and carbon monoxide levels. Crews are using handheld monitors and drones for the tests, which take five minutes or less and focus on identifying any immediate life-threatening conditions, according to the city.

“We have tested West from Candler Road to Moreland Avenue closest to the incident and are continuing to test other parts of Atlanta. So far, all results have come back within acceptable levels,” the city said. “Based on the latest tests, no immediate life safety issues have been identified. The haze observed earlier is also beginning to clear from the city.”

The Georgia Department of Public Health put out a statement Monday afternoon that said “no significant toxicity has been identified in the smoke.”

The department did say people should limit exposure to smoke by taking precautions such as staying inside and keeping windows and doors closed. Turning the air conditioner off is also recommended.

The smoke can cause symptoms such as eye irritation, coughing and headaches, according to the state health department. Those with asthma or other lung diseases and those with heart disease could experience much more serious breathing symptoms.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens posted to social media on Monday morning that no warnings or advisories have been reported for Atlanta. He said the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are conducting air quality control checks.

The city is also in contact with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and state Environmental Protection Division to monitor the situation, he said.

“At this time, no warnings or advisories have been issued. We will continue to coordinate with the EPA and EPD and all updates will be posted on our social channels. If you have concerns stay inside, close windows and doors, and turn off ventilation systems,” Dickens said.

Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency said it is also investigating the reports of haze and chemical smells in Fulton County, likely caused by the BioLab fire.

“We do believe it’s related to the BioLab fire, but why we are seeing the change in conditions is what we are attempting to figure out. Latest plume modeling indicates it moving to the northeast, which it is clearly not,” the agency said.

DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency and DeKalb County Fire Rescue are testing air quality throughout the day, according to a news release.

“DeKalb Emergency Management Agency is aware of numerous reports of air quality concerns in the county following a chemical fire Sunday at a laboratory in Conyers. Currently, there are no advisories from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division for DeKalb County concerning air quality,” the news release said.

“DEMA and DeKalb County Fire Rescue are testing air quality throughout the day around the county and will issue advisories should they become necessary. Residents are advised to call 311 to report any air quality concerns.”

As of 1:35 p.m., DeKalb County School District (DCSD) and Atlanta Public Schools (APS) have cancelled afterschool activities. Midtown High School’s homecoming football game against Jackson High School was delayed on Friday, Sept. 27 due to closure of schools after Tropical Storm Helene, and is in jeopardy of being delayed again today.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.





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