BioLab Fire Not Expected to Impact Cobb Air Quality

Chemical levels from the Rockdale County BioLab fire are unlikely to cause harm to most people, according to a Monday afternoon public safety alert.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Division, issued a public safety alert declaring a local area emergency within a 50-mile radius of the BioLab plant.

On Sunday, a fire broke out at the Conyers facility, which manufactures pool and spa chemicals, producing a huge plume of smoke that resulted in the evacuation of the area from Sigman Road to Ga. Highway 138 to Interstate 20 at Exit 84.

In the aftermath of the fire and chemical incident, the state EPD and the federal Environmental Protection Agency detected chlorine in the air emitting from the BioLab incident location.

The EPA is currently monitoring air quality for chlorine and related compounds, said Monday's public safety alert.

Cobb officials said Cobb Emergency Management Agency has coordinated with state and federal officials, including GEMA, to sample the air in the county.

The air monitoring readings for chlorine and hydrogen chloride were not detected, according to CEMA.

Since winds are currently blowing to the northeast, generally away from Cobb, and there have been no reports of haze or odor in the area, Cobb officials said no specific precautionary guidance has been issued at this time.

CEMA will continue to monitor and coordinate with state officials should the situation change.