A History of Chlorine Incidents

Graniteville, South Carolina

On January 6th, 2005, A train accident involving chlorine gas cars led to a catastrophic chlorine release, causing nine deaths, hundreds of injuries, and the evacuation of residents.

The 2005 Graniteville train wreck caused the release of 11,500 gallons of toxic gas and has left lasting health impacts, such as chronic lung issues for many residents. The accident devastated the local economy and has reduced the town to a near-ghost status.

This incident would later raise serious concerns about the handling and transport of chlorine and other chemicals. You can read all about the impact that the 2005 Granitville train wreck has left on the small community in Aiken County here.

Lease Agreement

Following the Graniteville accident, which raised serious concerns about the handling and transport of chlorine and other chemicals within the surrounding community, the city and port officials convened to address safety risks. In 2007, a critical clause was added to Chemtrade's lease renewal, mandating that chlorine production and transport at the site would end by 2030.

Biolab Incident, Conyers, Georgia

A chemical reaction at the BioLab plant in Conyers, Georgia, caused a chlorine gas release that led to the closure of Interstate 20 for over six hours and severe traffic congestion. Firefighters responded to smoke and vapor emitted due to water exposure affecting stored dry chemicals.

Although no injuries were reported, surrounding businesses were evacuated, and residents were advised to shelter in place.

This was attributed to a reaction triggered by a water exposure inside the facility, which led to a large plume of chlorine gas impacting nearby communities. 

Lake Charles, LA

During Hurricane Laura, the BioLab Inc. chemical plant in Westlake, Louisiana, which produces chlorine for swimming pools, caught fire and continued burning as of Thursday evening. A shelter-in-place advisory was issued for residents by the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, urging them to keep doors and windows closed and follow local directives. The Cajun Navy posted footage of smoke over the city, and agencies including Louisiana State Police, the Lake Charles Fire Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were involved in response efforts.

As one the leading suppliers of chlorine tablets, BioLab is the main source of chlorine for many pools around the country and this incident disrupted the chlorine supply chain nationwide.

You can read all about the incident here.

Chemtrade Begins Lobbying

With Chemtrade’s lease and permission to produce, store, and transport chlorine set to expire soon, they have been lobbying the District of North Vancouver to try and convince them into allowing the removal of the 2030 covenant that was in place to protect the North Shore.  

Atlanta, Georgia

On September 30th 2024, a chemical fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers, Georgia led to the shelter-in-place order for over 90,000 people, which was ignited by a malfunctioning sprinkler. The fire started early in the morning when a sprinkler head malfunctioned, causing water to mix with a water-reactive chemical. This triggered a dangerous chemical reaction and produced a massive plume of dark smoke. 

The fire at the BioLab facility sent a chlorine-filled cloud through the region, affecting nearby communities and causing concerns about air quality. As far away as Atlanta, residents reported smelling chlorine and seeing a haze in the air. Authorities advised those affected to stay indoors, turn off air conditioning, and keep windows shut as a precaution. In response, several school districts in the area cancelled outdoor activities, while some schools in Newton County closed entirely. Firefighters also struggled to control the situation due to chemical reactions and hazardous materials.