Conyers, GA: BioLab Fire

EPA Air Monitoring Support

EPA Region 4 worked as part of Unified Command with Rockdale County, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and BioLab, to respond to the fire and subsequent cleanup at the BioLab pool chemical manufacturing facility in Conyers, Ga. The EPA performed air monitoring for the duration of the emergency response for the safety of both workers and the public.

The EPA used stationary and roving monitoring instruments to monitor the air quality for chlorine and related compounds around the BioLab facility, view more info on our YouTube channel. The EPA provided Rockdale County with the results to to inform Rockdale County's public protection measures.

As the emergency response phase ended, EPA discontinued its monitoring effective October 17, 2024. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) assumed oversight of remaining cleanup operations and air monitoring will continue, through the environmental contractors for BioLab, with oversight from GA EPD and EPA.

Data collected by BioLab’s contractors will continue to be shared via the Real-time Data Viewer for the foreseeable future.  The EPA’s full set of Air Monitoring Summary Table Reports from its stationary monitoring through October 17, 2024, will continue to be available.

EPA Air Monitoring Results

EPA compares air monitoring data to the Acute Exposure Guideline Level (AEGLs) or “action level” developed by the EPA for use by emergency responders when dealing with this type of chemical release. The action level is protective of sensitive and vulnerable populations, such as children and individuals with respiratory or other health conditions.

The action level for chlorine is 0.5 parts per million (ppm) and is based on exposure above that level for over one hour. Any detections on an air monitor within a given sampling period were averaged and compared to the action level.

Real-time Data Viewer

This interactive tool allows users to view real-time data from instruments in the field and may be accessed here. *Note EPA discontinued its air monitoring effective October 17, 2024, however, is continuing to share the data collected by BioLab’s contractor in the tool.

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Air Monitoring Summary Table Reports

Air monitoring summary table reports are used by EPA and local responders to review the thousands of measurements that are collected in a single day. The EPA’s complete set of 12-hour air monitoring results from the duration of the emergency response are posted below:

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 17, 2024 (5 a.m. to 5 p.m.) (pdf) (1.75 MB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 16, 2024 (5 p.m.) - October 17, 2024 (5 a.m.) (pdf) (1.74 MB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 16, 2024 (5 a.m. to 5 p.m.) (pdf) (1.74 MB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 15, 2024 (5 p.m.) - October 16, 2024 (5 a.m.) (pdf) (1.81 MB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 15, 2024 (5 a.m. to 5 p.m.) (pdf) (1.75 MB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 14, 2024 (5 p.m.) - October 15, 2024 (5 a.m.) (pdf) (1.74 MB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 14, 2024 (5 a.m. to 5 p.m.) (pdf) (1.69 MB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 13, 2024 (5 p.m.) - October 14, 2024 (5 a.m.) (pdf) (1.69 MB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 13, 2024 (5 a.m. to 5 p.m.) (pdf) (1.7 MB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 12, 2024 (5 p.m.) - October 13, 2024 (5 a.m.) (pdf) (518.4 KB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 12, 2024 (5 a.m. to 5 p.m.) (pdf) (1.69 MB)

Air Monitoring Summary Table October 11, 2024 (5 p.m.) - October 12, 2024 (5 a.m.) (pdf) (596.83 KB)