What can I expect from short-term exposure to chlorine?
- Coughing
- Irritation or burning sensation in the eyes, nose, and throat
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Wheezing in patients with preexisting asthma or COPD
- Chest tightness or pain
- Watery eyes or blurred vision
- Nausea or vomiting
If you develop severe respiratory symptoms, call 911 or go to the Emergency Department. If symptoms are less severe, contact your healthcare provider or the Georgia Poison Center at 404-856-6252.
What symptoms can I expect from long-term exposure to chlorine?
Symptoms of exposure include:
- Coughing
- Irritation or burning sensation in the eyes, nose, and throat
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Wheezing in patients with preexisting asthma or COPD
- Chest tightness or pain
- Watery eyes or blurred vision
- Nausea or vomiting
Severe symptoms may lead to:
- Wheezing in people who haven’t wheezed before
- Swelling of the throat
- Fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema)
- Severe respiratory distress
If you develop severe respiratory symptoms, call 911 or go to the Emergency Department. If symptoms are less severe, contact your healthcare provider or the Georgia Poison Center at 404-856-6252.
Is there a home remedy for chlorine exposure?
There are no home remedies or treatments available. The best protective measures are:
- Limit exposure and follow EMA guidance on shelter-in-place or evacuation.
- Limit your activities outdoors and stay inside and away from the smoke.
- Keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed. Run your air conditioner only if you can close the fresh air intake and use re-circulated air.
Note: Cloth, surgical, or N95 masks provide only limited protection, if any.
How do I protect my infant or child from chlorine exposure?
Infants and children can be more sensitive to the chlorine and other irritants released into the air from the BioLab fire. It is important to limit their exposure to the smoke as much as possible. Keep them indoors, with windows and doors closed; run your air conditioner only if you can close the fresh air intake and use re-circulated indoor air.
If your child has asthma and has an Asthma Action Plan, follow the plan using reliever medication such as albuterol or Symbicort. If your child develops severe respiratory symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or wheezing, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department. If symptoms are less severe, contact your healthcare provider or the Georgia Poison Center at 404-856-6252.
If your child develops minor eye irritation, saline eye drops or moisturizing eye drops may provide some relief. If skin irritation occurs, wash the area with cool water. If the area still feels dry and irritated, moisturizing skin lotions and /or topical corticosteroids (such as hydrocortisone) may help. If symptoms persist, contact your healthcare provider or the Georgia Poison Center at 404-856-6252 for further advice and assistance.
Are my elderly parents safe?
Smoke that contains chlorine compounds can cause various symptoms, including irritation of the eyes and airways, coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, headaches, stinging eyes, or a runny nose. These symptoms may be worse in older adults due to naturally diminished lung capacity from aging or illnesses like asthma, chronic bronchitis, or COPD.
It is important to limit exposure to the smoke as much as possible. Stay indoors with windows and doors closed; run the air conditioner only if you can close the fresh air intake and use re-circulated indoor air.
If you develop severe respiratory symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or swallowing, shortness of breath, or wheezing, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department. If symptoms are less severe, contact your healthcare provider or the Georgia Poison Center at 404-856-6252.
How should I handle debris in my yard?
Anything that results from a resident cleaning up their property is going to fall into the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) category and thus be exempt from Hazardous Waste regulation. Any delays in cleaning up because of possible exposures due to inhalation and skin contact must be balanced against the increasing likelihood of these exposures as residues dry out and become more mobile through dusting.
Our recommendations:
- Wear some kind of dust mask when cleaning up residues
- Place large pieces (anything that can be picked up by hand) into plastic bags and place in garbage
- Do the same with any cloths/paper towels used for cleanup
- Powder-types residues/contamination may be rinsed to ground
Pets/Livestock
Chemical Fire Safety for Animals
https://agr.georgia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/emergency-response/20241001-2-chemical-fire-flyer.pdf
What is the difference between smoke and a plume?
Plume describes the spread of smoke or chemical cloud as it moves from the source through the air. Plume can be used to describe any air born release smoke or chemicals.
What is inversion?
Inversion meteorology refers to a phenomenon in which a layer of warm air overlies cooler air. An inversion traps fog or smoke, near the ground. An inversion can also suppress convection by acting as a "cap". In this case, the smoke acts like fog. It settles to ground at night and hovers until the morning sun warms the air and lifts it up to a higher level. When it lifts the wind can carry it with it.
How should I handle debris in my yard?
Anything that results from a resident cleaning up their property is going to fall into the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) category and thus be exempt from Hazardous Waste regulation. Any delays in cleaning up because of possible exposures due to inhalation and skin contact must be balanced against the increasing likelihood of these exposures as residues dry out and become more mobile through dusting.
Our recommendations:
- Wear some kind of dust mask when cleaning up residues
- Place large pieces (anything that can be picked up by hand) into plastic bags and place in garbage
- Do the same with any cloths/paper towels used for cleanup
- Powder-types residues/contamination may be rinsed to ground