Enough is Enough
It is time we held corporations responsible for their actions, or lack thereof, that lead to mass environmental and health impacts. Rockdale Board of Commissions has finally said enough is enough. In a press conference on Monday October 21, 2024, 3 weeks after the BioLab explosion, Commissioner Sherri Washington announced there will be civic action taken against BioLab corporation and its parent company KIK.
Washington states, “For the past 3 weeks, I have listened to the numerous physical, mental, and emotional tolls that this company’s negligence has caused our residents.” The commissioner continues to call BioLab out for having 4 toxin emitting instances over the past 20 years that the facility has been located in Rockdale.
In the most recent incident on September 29, 2024, a BioLab facility in Rockdale Georgia exploded leading to 17,000 people being evacuated and 90,000 people being told to shelter in place. The explosion impacted air quality by depositing chlorine gas, which can lead to symptoms of burning of the eyes, coughing, choking, vomiting, dizziness and headache. The plume was seen across the metro Atlanta area and residents of neighboring counties and cities also complained of burning in the eyes, nose, and mouth.
As of October 17, 2024, 19 days after the explosion, the shelter in place order was lifted at the county press conference in which BioLab was invited but was not in attendance. It is evident through this action, those preceding and subsequent, that BioLab has no interest in protecting the residents of the community it benefits from.
This incident is one of environmental justice not only for its impacts to the environment and air quality, but also because 63.5% of Rockdale residents are BIPOC. For perspective, 68% of African-Americans live within a 30 mile radius of a coal-powered plant in comparison to 56% of their White counterparts living in the same radius. BIPOC groups live at a greater risk to exposure to plumes and toxic air pollution.
The lawsuit is set to be filed this week, and there will be a community town hall for residents to express their concerns and stories from the explosion in the coming days.
To stay up to date on ways you can get involved and have your voice be heard, please follow the Rockdale County Instagram page and any announcements made there and on the Rockdale County website. If you are experiencing symptoms, Rockdale County officials encourage you to seek treatment from your healthcare provider or call the Georgia Poison Center at 404-856-6265.
