As the fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers continues to burn, the American Lung Association has issued health guidance for communities potentially impacted by the smoke.
The Environmental Protection Agency and local health officials have been monitoring air quality for chlorine, hydrochloric acid, and other compounds since the fire began on Sunday morning. On Monday evening, the Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency lifted the shelter-in-place order for more than 90,000 residents, as well as the evacuation zone for nearly 17,000 residents.
"Due to the nature of this fire and the potential increase in particle pollution and other contaminants, residents may experience negative impacts to lung health," said Albert Rizzo, MD, FACP, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association. "In addition to following the guidance of on-site emergency personnel, people can take steps to safeguard their lung health by keeping windows closed, monitoring their health for any new or worsening symptoms and reaching out to their healthcare provider if they have concerns."
The American Lung Association provides tips and health information to protect lung health in such events. For more information on how to protect your lungs from smoke or chemical releases, visit Lung.org/disaster. Media interested in speaking with an expert can contact the American Lung Association at [email protected] or 312-273-5890.
