Blurred vision, shortness of breath, massive bills: Residents near a chemical plant fire say they’re suffering a month later

The opaque plumes of noxious smoke billowing out of a Georgia chemical plant are long gone. But the relentless effects of the BioLab fire in Conyers are still visible, residents say – from exacerbated rashes to mounting bills to nagging symptoms and piles of prescriptions.

The opaque plumes of noxious smoke billowing out of a Georgia chemical plant are long gone. But the relentless effects of the BioLab fire in Conyers are still visible, residents say – from exacerbated rashes to mounting bills to nagging symptoms and piles of prescriptions. “My vision still ain’t like it should be,” said Kisha Reid, a nurse who said she’s visited at least three doctors since the blaze propelled chlorine smoke for miles. “I don’t know if the chemicals had burnt it so bad.” CNN spoke with several Conyers residents over the past week who said they still have blurry vision, shortness of breath, throat irritation or chronic headaches since the September 29 chemical plant fire. But they say their doctors haven’t been able to prove whether their ailments are directly linked to the BioLab inferno. Reid’s husband, Akeno, said he still suffers shortness of breath and chronic headaches that won’t go away with medication. When a headache comes on, “you can’t function because it’s just too intense,” he said. The personal trainer said he also had to “drain savings” and run up his credit cards due to the BioLab catastrophe. “I have dozens of clients that I train. Obviously, they didn’t want to actually come outside.”