Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story

Pamela 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.

When 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.

Follow 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.

When 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.  

In 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.

We 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.

Last 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.

In 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.

In 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.

After 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.

At a national trade show for pool and spa chemicals, we meet industry insiders who help us understand how the business works—and how safety often takes a back seat to sales. This episode traces the path from corporate booths to chemical fires, revealing what’s at stake if profit outweighs precaution.

For decades, fires at BioLab in Conyers, Ga., have put residents and first responders at risk. From the massive 2004 blaze to the toxic 2024 fire, history keeps repeating itself. Why does this keep happening? And who is holding BioLab accountable? Host Pamela Kirkland investigates the dangerous legacy of "FireLab" and the fight for stronger chemical safety regulations.

A chemical fire at a BioLab plant forces mass evacuations, revealing a pattern of industrial risks and regulatory gaps in a predominantly Black community. Residents grapple with toxic smoke, uncertain health impacts, and a lack of clear answers from authorities, uncovering a history of repeated incidents at the facility.  

When a chemical fire broke out at the BioLab facility in Conyers, Georgia in 2024, a plume of smoke blanketed the area, triggering evacuations and urgent warnings to stay indoors. But for many residents, this wasn’t just an isolated emergency—it was part of a larger pattern of industrial incidents at the plant that raised serious concerns about safety and oversight. In Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story, Pamela Kirkland investigates what led to the fire, how officials and the company responded, and the lingering questions about its impact on the community. Through firsthand accounts, expert analysis, and and newly uncovered details, this series explores the broader implications of chemical safety, regulation, and corporate responsibility—while giving voice to those living with the consequences.