Cheryl Garcia is a retired nurse practitioner. She says since the fire at the BioLab facility in September, she sounds different.
“This is my BioLab voice,” Garcia says. “I’ve been through it, and I’m like, I’m not going back to the doctor. I’m tired of seeing them, and they’re tired of seeing me.”
Garcia had been asthma-free for more than a decade before the fire. Now, her symptoms have returned.
The September fire at the facility in Conyers, where chemicals for swimming pools and spas are produced, created a plume that released chemicals into the air. It triggered thousands of evacuations, closed businesses, and forced Rockdale County schools to switch to virtual learning for weeks.
Garcia says the aftereffects of the fire have taken a toll on her and her husband’s health. The couple lives just a few miles from the plant.
“My husband’s primary care doctor wrote it very clearly,” Garcia said. “And he put it on my medical record that it was due to chemical exposure.”
Immediately after the event, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began monitoring levels of chlorine gas released into the air. That monitoring ended as the emergency response to the fire concluded in October.
Federal investigators released a preliminary report on the fire in November. Their investigation is ongoing.
Last week, BioLab announced it would stop accepting new reimbursement claims at the end of the year. Existing claims will continue to be processed beyond Dec. 31, but the company will not take any additional claims after that date.
The company said the decision reflected a decrease in the volume of incoming claims. Emma Cloyd, a spokesperson for the company said via email, “While the new claims filing period is coming to a close, BioLab is maintaining its strong commitment to the community, and the company will continue to partner with local organizations to provide support moving forward.”
However, some residents say they’re still waiting to hear back about claims they’ve submitted.
Krystel Boie, who is expecting her first child, evacuated her home for nine weeks on her OB-GYN’s advice. She’s spent money on hotels and Airbnbs to avoid potential health risks.
“The things you expect as a first-time mom, like building a nursery, just didn’t happen,” Boie said. Her doctor also ordered additional ultrasounds as a precaution.
BioLab says it has worked with residents to cover evacuation expenses, property damages, and medical bills. The company has processed thousands of reimbursement claims related to the fire.
Dr. Ziad Kazzi, a medical toxicologist at Emory University, says exposure to chlorine gas can have both immediate and long-term effects.
“A subset of people will develop a persistent cough, wheezing, and increased sensitivity to other chemicals,” Kazzi said. He added that individuals with preexisting conditions like asthma or COPD are particularly vulnerable.
Cheryl Garcia and Krystel Boie aren’t alone. At a recent community meeting held at a local church, nearly 100 residents gathered to share their fears and frustrations.
“I’m sick every day,” one attendee said. “I’m just praying because I don’t know what else to do.”
Others described migraines, respiratory problems, and lingering anxiety over what they and their families may have been exposed to.
This story comes to The Georgia Sun through a reporting partnership with GPB a non-profit newsroom focused on reporting in Georgia.
