On September 30, 2024, a chemical fire broke out in a biological laboratory in Conyers, Georgia, USA. Dangerous sulfuric acid clouds were generated in the air, resulting in mandatory evacuation of personnel.
Peter Zay | Anadolu | Getty Images
Atlanta could experience smog and the smell of chlorine on Thursday as officials work to control its effects. Chemistry laboratory fire That lit up the atmosphere on Sunday.
Air quality monitoring around Georgia Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security’s biological laboratory facility in Conyers detects elevated chlorine levels overnight said in a press release Wednesday.
People in metro Atlanta will likely wake up to smog and the smell of chlorine Thursday morning as weather models predict a change in wind direction, the agency said.
The reason for the increased chlorine content is Fire breaks out on roof of Conyers BioLab factory5 a.m. Sunday in Rockdale County. It has since been extinguished, but the resulting release of chemical gases prompted shelter-in-place advisories across the county, Population 93,570also mandatory evacuation order Provide services to residents near the factory.
Despite air quality findings released Wednesday that were above action levels for chlorine, the emergency management agency said field crews continue to make progress on neutralizing the product. As this process continues, chlorine levels around the facility are expected to increase periodically, the report said.
Forecasters predict winds will begin to shift from east to west after sunset Wednesday, with smoke expected to settle to the ground as it approaches Atlanta, about 30 miles west of Conyers. However, the emergency management agency said the smell and haze should dissipate as the air clears up Thursday afternoon and evening.
On September 30, 2024, a chemical fire broke out in a biological laboratory in Conyers, Georgia, USA. Dangerous sulfuric acid clouds were generated in the air, resulting in mandatory evacuation of personnel.
Peter Zay | Anadolu | Getty Images
Fumes containing chlorine compounds can cause eye and respiratory irritation among other symptoms. People with heart or lung disease may experience other symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue. Emergency management agencies recommend that people stay indoors and keep indoor air as clean as possible to limit exposure to smoke.
Since then, Rockdale County residents have begun taking social media Expressing their frustration with the situation, they made comments like, “Despite the chaos of being burned while driving, working here makes me feel like I’ll soon grow a third eye” and “I already know “Many people with lung/chest conditions” are experiencing pain and other complications in areas being told to “shelter in place.” “
Thomas Chastain, who works across the street from the BioLab facility, said he knows people who have breathing problems. He also said the county has been sending conflicting messages.
“This is a very irritating situation for all of our citizens,” he said. “We get a hundred messages a day, and one says it’s safe, and then the next one says, ‘Oh, this isn’t safe.'”
Chastain also said community members are petitioning to remove BioLab from Rockdale.
Emergency management agencies say chlorine levels in the air are at safe levels.
Many state and federal agencies, including the State Office of Emergency Management and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, continue to utilize Atmospheric trace gas analyzera self-contained mobile laboratory capable of instant monitoring of outdoor air or emissions.
Anyone experiencing symptoms such as nose, throat or eye irritation or difficulty breathing can report it to the Georgia Poison Center hotline at 404-856-6252.
