A fire at the BioLab chemical plant in Conyers, Georgia, forced evacuations and shelter-in-place orders, prompting outrage from residents over repeated safety violations at the facility.
Timothy Pratt reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- BioLab, a chemical plant in Conyers, experienced its third major fire in two decades, releasing chlorine fumes across the Atlanta area.
- Evacuations and shelter orders affected tens of thousands, with some residents petitioning to shut down the plant permanently.
- The EPA assured the public that air quality posed minimal risk, but many residents remain skeptical.
Key quote:
“Just about everyone I’ve spoken to locally or not agrees that factories can be dangerous, but three times in living memory is just too many for anyone.”
— Peter Stolmeier, Conyers resident.
Why this matters:
Repeated incidents at the BioLab plant show a worrying pattern of negligence, raising concerns about industrial safety regulations and environmental health in nearby communities. Ongoing chemical exposure risks remain a serious issue for residents.
Read more: A fire at Georgia chemical plant leads to evacuation of 17,000 residents
