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An industrial fire burning since Sunday afternoon (September 29, 2024) in Conyers, Georgia – 24-miles east of Atlanta – has prompted evacuations and a shelter in place order. Those precautionary moves are intended to help keep residents safe from the hazardous fumes billowing out of BioLab, Inc. So far, officials have not named the potential chemical culprits – or commented on the nature of the health risks associated with exposure.
In days and weeks to come, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will monitor the air and come up with solid conclusions about its content. But that information will not be helpful to the thousands of people trying to evaluate their personal risk today.
In the meantime, the company’s environmental records provide a list of the hazardous substances handled on the site – and highlights those of particular concern.
The wild variable impacting the list is the fire which is cooking the chemicals and rapidly disseminating them into the air. Heat is a catalyst that alters some chemicals.
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Drone footage 2 hours ago of flooding of Newport TN before the breaking of the Waterville Dam. Max surge of Pigeon River will be in 3 hours according to Cocke County officials. Town may go completely underwater. Mandatory evacuations of all of downtown. pic.twitter.com/tdlb2kZ8p4
— BowTiedBroke (@BowTiedBroke) September 27, 2024
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BioLab’s Toxic Release Inventory (.pdf) from 2022 included some chemicals that cause cancer and some associated with respiratory problems. Those associated with a potential risk to human health include: benzyl chloride, chlorine, cresol, hydrochloric acid, methanol, phosphoric acid, and propylene oxide.
The facility’s history provides another more specific list of chemical concerns.
On May 25, 2004, a fire broke out at BioLabs, Inc. in a building that housed 12.5 million pounds of pool chemicals and oxidizers. The EPA hired Tetra Tec EM to perform air monitoring. A report of their findings revealed that the chemical exposure was closely related to the plume – and not detected in areas outside the plume. Hazardous concentrations were detected in the plume and the substances found to exceed permissible exposure limits established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) included: chlorine, hydrogen bromide, hydrochloric acid, and phosgene. Permissible exposure limits are the legal limits of which is a legal limit on the amount of a hazardous substance that can be present in the air that workers can be exposed to without experiencing adverse health effects.
During a chemical fire, exposure to hazardous substances can cause a variety of symptoms that may signal significant health risks. These symptoms vary based on the chemicals involved, the level of exposure, and the route of entry into the body (inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion).
Chemical fires pose significant health risks due to the release of toxic gases, corrosive agents, and particulate matter. If symptoms arise, immediate medical attention is essential to prevent long-term damage or life-threatening conditions.
When to Seek Medical Attention:
- Difficulty breathing or persistent coughing
- Chest pain or irregular heartbeat
- Severe dizziness, confusion, or loss of consciousness
- Severe eye irritation or vision disturbances
- Burns, blisters, or severe skin reactions
- Nausea, vomiting, or gastrointestinal distress
Count on this media outlet to provide any pertinent updates on the BioLab fire and its fallout.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Callie Lyons is a journalist, researcher and author. Her 2007 book ‘Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof and Lethal’ was the first to cover forever chemicals and their impact on communities – a story later told in the movie ‘Dark Waters.’ Her investigative work has been featured in media outlets, publications, and documentaries all over the world. Lyons also appears in ‘Citizen Sleuth’ – a 2023 documentary exploring the genre of true crime.
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