CONYERS, Ga. — Maya Stallworth did her research before purchasing her Conyers home. She thought it'd be the perfect choice for her family.
"I had specifically chosen this area just because I just knew that it was safe," she told 11Alive. "A chemical plant exploding was never on my bingo card."
Her face started itching this week. Her contact lenses suddenly bothered her eyes. And now, it feels difficult to breathe without a tightness in her chest.
"If this is what's making me feel this way, then I can't imagine what my children would be experiencing if they were exposed to it," Stallworth said. "You're telling me that I have to be worried for my children's chemical exposure? It's not fair."
However, data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that the problems didn't start with this chemical fire.
The one-mile radius surrounding the BioLab plant in Conyers is in the 95th percentile for "Air Toxics Cancer Risk" and the 91st for "Air Toxics Respiratory Hazard Index."
The EPA reported Clean Air Act violations from BioLab in April 2022 and May 2024. It was also issued a notice of noncompliance with the Clean Water Act in March 2022.
"It's frustrating, because how much danger are we in?" Claudettee Royal asked. "That doesn't make me feel confident that it's safe... I don't understand why this company is not in compliance and still working and still open."
11Alive asked BioLab about its safety record and citizen concerns. It said the prior fires "did not concern the building involved in this situation at our Conyers facility" and that "each had their own root causes, which were appropriately addressed at the time."
“Over the years, our company has been rigorous about actioning enhancements to our facilities, policies, and practices. Examples of adjustments we have implemented at Conyers include upgrades to our safety equipment; enhanced emergency response protocols; updated housekeeping procedures; and broad training for employees. We also conduct periodic tests and evaluations of our fire protection systems based on industry standards, as well as walk throughs with the local Fire Department," it told 11Alive in a statement. "BioLab and KIK have a very strong track record of working constructively with relevant regulators, and intend to continue doing so at the Conyers site until the incident is fully resolved.”