At first, it was only a trickle of calls coming into Georgia Poison Center on Sunday after a fire erupted at the BioLab plant in Conyers, releasing chemicals stored there into the air.
But by Monday, with a plume of smoke carrying chlorine lingering in the air, the calls started pouring in and the agency set up a hotline for people experiencing symptoms of exposure, including sore throat, eye irritation and difficulty breathing.
Credit: John Spink
Credit: John Spink
From Sunday until Wednesday afternoon, 475 calls have come into Georgia Poison Center reporting a range of symptoms and asking questions about the chemicals released and the danger posed by the smoky haze, according to Dr. Gaylord Lopez, executive director of the center.
“Fortunately, the exposure to the gas has been minimal, producing very expected symptoms that, for the most part, are not life-threatening. We have not had anyone speak of severe symptoms like severe wheezing or an allergic reaction when your throat swells up. No one has been in respiratory distress,” said Lopez, who is a medical toxicologist. “Most of the calls we are handling are from the ‘walking worried’ who have minor symptoms, and they are usually short-lived and resolve on their own.”
The volume of calls was slowing by Wednesday — most from residents who live in the Conyers area, but some are from further out in metro Atlanta. People have reported seeing a fog and smelling chlorine, along with other symptoms of exposure, miles away from the facility.
The most common complaints include skin irritation, watery eyes and nausea. Some people have complained about chest tightness and a slight difficulty in breathing, Lopez said. Most people can recover at home and expect symptoms to subside within a couple of days if not sooner, he added.
He said Georgia Poison Center has recommended a handful of people — particularly those who are older and with an underlying condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — get evaluated by a health care provider.
Georgia Poison Center is a division of Grady Health System, and the medical toxicologists are faculty of the Emory School of Medicine. The hotline includes options for getting information about the incident and general information about symptoms. There is also an option to speak to a live staffer to provide advice for people concerned about symptoms or possible exposure.
The hotline is 404-856-6252.
Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC
Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC
On Wednesday, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency warned there is a “high likelihood” people across metro Atlanta will see haze and smell chlorine on Thursday morning as the wind changes direction and blows the plume to the west of the Conyers plant.
Those living nearby have been advised to stay inside every evening through early morning until Friday. The large cloud of smoke — now caused by a chemical reaction, not a fire — has been shifting based on weather conditions.
The BioLab facility, which makes chemicals to clean swimming pools and spas, has a history of hazardous incidents at its facilities in Georgia and elsewhere, state and federal records show.
It is unclear what sparked this latest fire, which started on the facility’s roof Sunday morning. It was initially extinguished but reignited that afternoon, triggering the building’s sprinkler system, which then caused water to mix with a water-reactive chemical.
On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it was testing for chlorine and hydrochloric acid, while other county emergency services and fire departments around the metro area said they were testing for a range of hazardous air pollutants.
So far, public agencies say their air quality testing has not found concentrations that would pose safety concerns to the general public, but they have advised residents of Rockdale County and other nearby counties to stay indoors if they see or smell the plume.
Here are top tips from Lopez for limiting and managing symptoms:
- Stay indoors to limit exposure to the chemical compounds, with closed windows and doors and all ventilation systems turned off. HVAC systems that are known to recirculate only indoor air can be left on in recirculate mode.
- Pregnant women are more susceptible to the effects of a chemical exposure and should limit their time outdoors. They should also consult with their OB-GYN for more guidance.
- People with underlying health conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, should pay attention to symptoms and be especially careful to avoid exposure.
- If you feel irritation, wash your skin and gently rinse your eyes with water or saline solution.
- Remove any clothes you think might be contaminated and wash them. They are OK to wear again after washing.
- Pets are also susceptible to chlorine gas exposure. Minimize exposure by bringing them indoors. If they’ve been exposed, consider rinsing their eyes and fur. Contact a veterinarian for advice if they show symptoms of exposure.
- A mask, like those worn to prevent the spread of coronavirus, won’t offer protection from chemicals. The gas molecules are small and can easily penetrate those masks.
- If your symptoms don’t improve or get worse, call Georgia Poison Control or contact your health care provider. People should see significant improvement within hours or within a day or so. If you are still dealing with symptoms several days later, or if your symptoms worsen, you should contact your health care provider.
- Get medical attention right away for severe symptoms or if you have trouble breathing.
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