Podcast
Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story
Hosted by Georgia Public Broadcasting · EN
When a fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers, Georgia, sent a toxic cloud of smoke across the community, residents were left to wonder what they had been exposed to and what it would mean for their long-term health. One year later, many of those questions remain unanswered.
In Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story, GPB’s Pamela Kirkland follows residents through the aftermath, while uncovering new details about what was happening inside the plant. Former employees describe ignored warnings, and whistleblowers raise questions about the response to the disaster.
In Season 2, the podcast pieces together what could have been done to prevent the fire. It follows the ongoing health fallout, examines why critical response tools were never used, and reveals how BioLab’s little-known parent company is more familiar than most people realize.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Echoes of Conyers
Nov 300:22:41Tap to summarizePamela travels to Roseland, Louisiana, after an explosion at Smitty’s Supply, a scene that mirrors the BioLab fire in Conyers, Georgia. She talks with residents, local leaders, and retired Lieutenant General Russel Honoré about health testing, cleanup, and the struggle to rebuild trust in public institutions. Along the way, she examines how the U.S. Chemical Safety Board balances limited authority with public expectation and how BioLab and its parent company, KIK Consumer Products, remain under scrutiny as investigations and enforcement actions continue.
Transcribe →"You can't find what you don't look for"
Oct 2700:20:26Tap to summarizeWhen BioLab burned in Conyers, officials told the public the danger was over. What if they never looked for the most toxic chemicals? This episode follows the trail of missing tests, hidden dioxins, and the local voices who refused to let the story fade, including the Rockdale County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, who kept asking the questions others stopped asking.
Transcribe →The Biggest Company You've Never Heard Of
Oct 2000:27:19Tap to summarizeFollow the investigation into Biolab’s sudden halt to manufacturing in Conyers and the complex finances of its parent, KIK Consumer Products. We connect resident claims and class actions with pressure from creditors and a changing pool chemical market, so you understand how corporate decisions and court rulings could shape health monitoring and compensation for thousands. Join us as we unpack filings, facilities, and the supply chain to reveal what is visible and what remains hidden.
Transcribe →‘A missed opportunity’
Oct 1300:23:34Tap to summarizeWhen a massive chemical fire broke out at the BioLab plant in Conyers in September 2024, the EPA had a tool: a plane, capable of mapping the toxic plume in real time. But it never left the ground. GPB's Pamela Kirkland has more.
Transcribe →‘It's changed a lot with me’
Oct 600:23:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode, you’ll hear from families who are still searching for answers, alongside the clinicians and researchers working to understand the health consequences of the BioLab fire in Conyers, Georgia. We examine the symptoms that residents continue to report, why traditional single-chemical testing can fall short after a fire that releases many different toxins, and what emerging studies reveal about the long-term impact on community health.
Transcribe →Preventable Hazards
Sep 2900:26:01Tap to summarizeWe return to Conyers in season two with new voices and new information. Former BioLab staff describe corrosion, leaky sprinklers, and storage beyond the stated limits. At the same time, neighbors continue to ask what they were exposed to and what lingers in their soil, gardens, and water. We connect the dots from Hurricane Helene to the 2024 fire, the Chemical Safety Board’s ongoing probe, and BioLab’s decision to end manufacturing in Rockdale County.
Transcribe →Season Two Trailer
Sep 300:02:17Tap to summarizeLast season, Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story uncovered how a fire at a Georgia chemical plant left residents in an Atlanta suburb searching for answers. In Season Two, host Pamela Kirkland goes deeper. Former employees are coming forward with insider accounts of what really went on inside the plant. Community members continue to face health challenges. And new investigations are raising even more disturbing questions about safety, accountability, and whether disasters like this can ever be prevented.
Transcribe →Now What?
May 12, 202500:23:35Tap to summarizeIn the final episode of Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story, Conyers residents reflect on the lasting impact of the 2024 BioLab fire and what recovery really looks like. As the community pushes for accountability, long-overlooked safety systems are finally being revived.
Transcribe →"I Don’t Know What I’ve Been Exposed To"
May 5, 202500:24:43Tap to summarizeIn Episode 5 of Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story, residents of Rockdale County share disturbing health symptoms they say began after the BioLab chemical fire — from high blood pressure to respiratory issues and chronic fatigue. We investigate what’s behind these symptoms, speaking with medical experts and community leaders launching a long-term health study.
Transcribe →After the Smoke Cleared
Apr 28, 202500:22:56Tap to summarizeAfter the BioLab fire in Conyers, local business owners and independent testers raced to uncover the chemical fallout left behind. In this episode, we follow their fight for answers — and the growing connections between communities impacted by chemical disasters across the country.
Transcribe →