New Study Will Look at Aftermath of Biolab Chemical Plume
Morehouse School of Medicine researchers are partnering with Community Action NOW! to assess the impact of the recent BioLab chemical fire in the community.
By Grace King, 11Alive News
CONYERS, Georgia — Cheryl Garcia sounds like an entirely different person. Her hoarse voice is constantly interrupted with coughing. She doesn't know if or when that will change.
"I call this my BioLab voice. This is not my normal voice," she told 11Alive. "I've seen like seven different providers. [My ENT] told me that I did have some damage to my vocal cords... so I'm not a very happy camper."
Garcia said her symptoms started after a chemical fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers, about seven miles from her home. Six months later, they haven't gone away. But a new community survey gives her hope.
"I am absolutely thrilled. I was at the meeting where the physician that's going to run the research project came and explained everything," she said. "It's really affected our lives."
Community Action NOW! is partnering with Morehouse School of Medicine researchers to assess the impact of the recent BioLab chemical fire in their community. The first step is a "Post Fire Public Health Recovery survey" open to residents of Rockdale, Newton, Walton, Gwinnett, Henry or DeKalb County.
"The survey is step one to a much larger project that will take place over the next three years. It could go longer than that, dependent upon what the community wants," Community Action NOW! Executive Director Iffat Walker said. "We feel that in order to really look at the true impact, we have to be inclusive of our neighbors and we have to bring them a part of this conversation."
She hopes to get at least 9,000 responses to their 10-minute survey in the next few months. Greater participation could give them greater insight into possible solutions.
"At the end of the day, our elected officials are part of those that were exposed. Our first responders were also exposed, so there has to be a point where we kind of look at this as a holistic community," she said. "This is how we solve the problem together as a community."
Morehouse School of Medicine Project Director Dr. James Washington will work with a team of researchers to analyze potential trends.
"We want to know what's been happening health-wise in that area surrounding Conyers and the explosion just to see what the trends are and therefore be able to identify if something different is going to occur," he explained. "We also want to find things about the experiences of residents."
Dr. Washington said the community responses to the survey will be a key part of that project.
"A lot of times community members and residents will give you clues into the problems that that you don't have as an academic," Dr. Washington said. "The people that are there on the front lines just have a better picture of things that are going on and a lot of times, factors that you wouldn't associate."
The survey is indefinitely open through the Community Action NOW! website. They will review it quarterly and decide where more intervention or resources could help.