Chlorine Plume Lingers Over Atlanta Suburbs After Conyers Chemical Fire

A large chemical explosion Sunday morning in Conyers, GA caused 17,000 evacuations and shelter-in-place orders for over 90,000 people. Those orders have now been lifted as of Monday evening. Conyers is 32 miles southeast of Atlanta, and the skyline is very hazy for residents. The chemical fire started at Biolab, which provides pool and spa chemicals. The primary chemical of concern is chlorine; residents in surrounding areas have reported smoke and a lingering smell of chlorine.

The EPA sent a message stating it is “unlikely to cause harm to most people.” The agency held a press conference in which the speaker said chlorine can be smelled at a level that is below the particular level of concern. EPA has been criticized for a quick response indicating there are no significant health concerns related to the chemical fire.

In the press release issued Monday evening, Rockdale County states that EPA air testing levels show an average reading of 0.09 for the county, which is “well below the action level (.5) as of the last reading (September 30 at 4:59 pm).” Scott Smith, an independent evaluator who blew the whistle on EPA malfeasance in East Palestine, told The HighWire that the EPA cherry-picked testing locations upwind from the train derailment so they could declare nothing to see here. In the case of the Conyers fire, the report states that the average testing numbers across the county are “well below the action level.”

As of Tuesday morning, Rockdale County issued a warning that the plume has been traveling. They have recommended that anyone who sees the plume overhead be put in shelter-in-place. In this case, the recommendation is to turn off air conditioning and keep all windows and doors shut. Mark McKay, an Atlanta reporter, posted airborne shots of the plume on Tuesday morning, a full two days following the initial fire. Cody Alcorn, 11Alive journalist, said the evacuation zone was lifted, but a resident told him she couldn’t go back home because the smell was too strong.

Scott Smith appeared on Status Coup with Jordan Chariton to discuss the implications of the chemical fire. Smith said the EPA is only testing the air, which he says is not enough to determine whether the region is safe from adverse health symptoms. Smith has been exposed to high levels of dioxins in the soil in East Palestine, including garlic. Despite Smith’s results that professional toxicologists have supported, EPA has long stated that produce, fish, and wildlife in the area is safe for human consumption.

Biolab, the site of the chemical fire, was also the location of two previous chemical fires over the last seven years. Last month, Biolab also had a chemical fire at another lab in Louisiana. A change.org petition calls upon the state to shut down the business after the third fire in seven years has instigated health concerns from local residents and independent toxicologists.

In addition to chlorine, other chemicals were used in pools and spas at the facility where the fire ignited. This includes saltwater cell cleaner, spa filter cleaner, Kleen-It, and mineral springs cell cleaner, among others. Common side effects when exposed to these products include respiratory issues, chemical burns, and long-term issues such as chronic respiratory conditions and an increased risk of cancer.

Chariton said he received statements from residents who have smelled chlorine 70 miles from the Biolab facility. Pictures of a hazy Atlanta skyline were posted on X Monday in the early afternoon, which is the ongoing result of Sunday’s chemical fire. A resident on X stated she has burning sinuses three hours northwest of Atlanta.

The Atlanta Community Press Collective said residents have reported dead birds two miles away from the Biolab facility, but they did not verify the integrity of those claims.

The East Palestine train derailment led to the contamination of soil, air, and resident homes. EPA insisted that it was safe to garden in the area and eat the produce without any evidence that they tested it. The HighWire has recently reported about Dacthal, a dangerous pesticide that the EPA removed from the market 15 years after it was banned in Europe. The HighWire also reported about the EPA’s battle to keep fluoride in the drinking water, which they lost in a historic court case that ended last week.

A large food production facility exists in Conyers, and it supplies food for a number of large brands throughout the country and around the world. The name of the facility is Golden State Foods, and the company’s clients include McDonalds, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Chipotle, Kraft, Nestle, Huntz, and many more. While GSF has 34 plants throughout the United States, the Conyers plant is one of only two production facilities in the country. It reportedly “produces meat and liquid products, including condiments, sauces, dressings, syrups, jams, jellies and other toppings.”

The EPA has not indicated any health concerns for area residents, so concerns about food contamination do not appear to be on the radar of the federal government agency. GSF has not yet responded to The HighWire’s request for a comment about their security and protocols for potentially contaminated food.