The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(TNS)
Crews used excavators Thursday to clean up the now-extinguished chemical plant fire in Rockdale County, as officials caution that winds could continue to drift the plume of smoke west toward Atlanta.
Swaths of metro Atlanta were warned they could see hazy skies and a chlorine odor from last Sunday’s fire at the BioLab facility in Conyers. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, citing advice from medical professionals, told residents to call their medical provider if they experience concerning symptoms.
Atlanta Public Schools said it would move all outdoor school-related activities indoors, though it will permit athletic events and after-school activities.
Rockdale County officials said that the plume is changing colors as debris is removed at the plant, where workers dressed in hard hats and bright vests navigated the area on Thursday morning. County fire vehicles appeared to be gone from the scene and several large tankers were stationed nearby on Old Covington Highway. The haze appeared more prevalent compared to Wednesday morning as excavators worked the site.
The Sunday fire at the BioLab chemical plant in Conyers created a plume of chemical smoke, and agencies have been monitoring the air quality since then as crews try to neutralize the site.
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has advised anyone who notices a chlorine odor in the air to limit their time outdoors. Chlorine, however, has a low odor threshold, meaning people can smell it even at very low concentrations that do not cause harm, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
GEMA said that smoke that contains chlorine compounds can cause symptoms such as eye and airway irritation, coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest tightness and headaches.
People living nearby have been advised to shelter in place every evening through early morning until Friday.
Researchers at the Rollins School of Public Health with Emory University said they’re concerned about long-term impacts on health and environment of the fire.
In a statement Wednesday night, BioLab said it was focused on remediation.
“We have continued to make progress in mitigating the situation at our facility, and we deeply regret the impact of the incident on our community,” the statement said. “Our executive leadership team is on the ground and engaging directly with local representatives and stakeholders on how we can best provide support; we will make further updates in this regard.”
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