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Fire at chemical plant in Georgia, US, causes gas leak, prompts evacuations CONYERS, USA – SEPTEMBER 30: A chemical fire in a BioLab sends dangerous sulfur acid clouds in the air, and caused mandatory evacuations in Conyers GA, United States on September 30, 2024 (Photo by Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Samiha Charles, CRDN
October 9, 2024
Incident Overview
On Sunday, a small fire at BioLab, a pool and spa treatment manufacturing plant in Rockdale County, Conyers, Georgia, resulted in a massive plume of billowing smoke. The incident led to the evacuation of nearly 17,000 people, with 90,000 residents east of Atlanta advised to seek shelter to avoid inhaling contaminants such as chlorine, chloramine, and other chlorine compounds.
Health Impact and Advisories
As of Wednesday, the Georgia Poison Center has received over 475 calls since Sunday, reporting various symptoms and inquiring about the released chemicals and their potential health risks.
Dr. Gaylord Lopez, Executive Director of the Georgia Poison Center, reported:
- On Tuesday, emergency services received about 257 symptom-related calls and 28 general inquiries about the airborne chemicals.
- Reported symptoms include:
○ Running nose
○ Burning throat
○ Extreme nausea and vomiting
○ Severe headaches
○ Overpowering smell of chlorine causing discomfort
Health officials are advising residents to:
- Stay indoors
- Seal windows and doors
- Turn off HVAC systems that recirculate outdoor air
- Seek immediate urgent care if experiencing symptoms
Despite these precautions, chlorine and other substance levels are reportedly below those recorded on Sunday when the explosion first occurred. However, residents are still urged to exercise caution and follow the provided guidelines.
For questions or concerns, residents can contact the Georgia Poison Center at 404-856-6252.
Cause of the Fire
The fire started at 5 am on Sunday due to a malfunctioning sprinkler head in the building. The combination of water and water-reactive chemicals containing trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) produced the smoke plume. TCCA, a chlorinating agent used to sanitize pools, comes in three forms: powder, compacted, or granulated. When it comes into contact with a small amount of water without dissolving immediately, the chemical reaction can create heat generation and TCCA decomposition, producing a toxic chlorine gas and potentially resulting in an explosive nitrogen trichloride.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Even a small amount of water splashed on the (pool) chemical may in some cases trigger a strong reaction.”
The 2023 BioLab investigation report states: “Water-reactive materials may violently react, produce toxic or other hazardous gasses, or evolve enough heat to cause self-ignition or ignition of nearby combustibles upon water exposure. TCCA is a Class 1 oxidizer, and TCCA ‘[r]eacts with combustible materials, ammonia salts, or foreign substances, resulting in fire.’ Bio-Lab’s TCCA safety data sheet (SDS) states that a fire involving TCCA should be flooded with water.”
Impact on the Area
- The billowing smoke was visible from as far as 30 miles away.
- Unstable weather conditions have caused the smoke to spread from East to West, reaching Decatur and creating a white foggy haze over Atlanta.
- Interstate 20 has been closed due to the incident.
- A TikTok video showed great orange and gray clouds hovering over Interstate 20, which has now spread to Atlanta as of Monday morning.
- The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency stated in a press release on Wednesday, “There is a high likelihood that people across Metro Atlanta will wake up Thursday morning seeing haze and smelling chlorine.”
According to Rockdale Fire Chief Marian McDaniel, employees were present in the building at the time of the incident, but no injuries have been reported, as stated in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
BioLab History and Safety Concerns
BioLab, owned by KIK Consumer Products, has been operating in Conyers since 1973. The facility has a history of hazardous incidents, including:
- Several OSHA reports and violations for not providing employees with proper protective gear.
- A February 2017 incident where untrained employees were exposed to various chemicals, including BLC-90, BioGuard Basic Chlorinating 3″ Tablets, Pool Time Shock Plus, and Aqua Chem Shock Xtra Blue. During this incident, an employee had two fingers amputated while working with a Baldwin Press to produce pool and spa materials. Workers were not wearing protective eyewear nor trained on how to safely handle the machines.
- A similar incident in August 2020 at BioLab’s Westlake, Louisiana facility duringHurricane Laura:
- On August 26, 2020, BioLab workers transported 825,000 pounds of TCCAoffsite.
- However, two trucks with an additional million pounds of TCCA were left onsite, raised above ground on triple-stacked pallets.
- The BioLab building did not meet Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) recommendations for withstanding hurricane-strength winds and damages.
- During the hurricane, chunks of roofing were torn off, allowing rainwater to come into contact with the water-reactive chemical, causing a reaction and eventual decomposition on August 27, 2020.
In April 2023, the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a final investigation report addressing both the BioLab Westlake, Louisiana facility and the facility in Conyers. One of the recommendations in the report urged federal regulators to increase oversight over hazards associated with reactive chemicals.
Legal Action
In response to the recent incident, many residents are considering a class action lawsuit against the company. The recurring safety issues and the significant impact on the local community have prompted concerns about the facility’s operations and safety measures.
As the situation continues to develop, local authorities and health officials are closely monitoring the air quality and potential long-term effects on the surrounding areas. Residents are encouraged to stay informed through official channels and follow all safety recommendations provided by local emergency management agencies.