Georgia researchers to study long-term health effects of recent BioLab explosion

Caroline Silva, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Feb 22, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

ATLANTA — Researchers are launching a three-year study into the long-term health effects on residents affected by the latest BioLab explosion.

The Post-Fire Public Health Recovery Project is a collaborative effort with researchers from the Morehouse School of Medicine and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Georgia, nonprofit Community Action NOW, or CAN, announced Saturday.

“This is a critical moment for our community,” said Executive Director of CAN, Iffat Walker. “The Post-Fire Public Health Recovery Project is our moment to make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected.”

The Sept. 29 BioLab explosion sent a massive chemical plume that lingered in the sky for several days. It triggered the evacuation of 17,000 people, nightly shelter-in-place orders and at least two weeks of school closures across Rockdale County.

Officials with CAN said that although respiratory issues, skin irritations, eye problems and displacement were apparent in the days after the explosion, long-term health implications “remain largely unknown due to a lack of prior long-term research following previous fires at this BioLab location.”

The incident was BioLab’s fourth in 20 years.

In September, the explosion resulted from a volatile reaction between water and a chemical known as trichloroisocyanuric acid, or TCCA, which created the color-changing cloud of smoke. The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency also detected bromine, chlorine, chloramine and other chlorine compounds released from the fire at the facility, which produces chemicals for spa and pool treatments.

During the first year of the three-year project, researchers will focus on data collection and analysis through surveys and assessments, providing aid to impacted residents, and connecting residents to each other and listening to their experiences.

More details on the project will be announced at 6 p.m. Monday at the “Shut Down BioLab” community forum at The Movement Church at 2431 Iris Drive in Conyers.