Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story

About Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story

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. Two years after the BioLab fire sent a massive plume of toxic smoke across metro Atlanta, questions remain about what people in Conyers were actually exposed to. Now, new scientific research is offering the clearest picture yet of what was in that plume as a growing number of residents report health concerns and search for answers. In Season 3 of Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story, host Pamela Kirkland investigates new findings and continues to ask questions about accountability and what government testing may have missed. GPB is commissioning independent environmental sampling as residents continue to ask what happened and what may have been left behind.

Publisher

Georgia Public Broadcasting

Category

business · news · science · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

24 Mar 2025

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

3 of 17 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   ‘The Puzzle Pieces Are Starting to Come Together’

   Host Pamela Kirkland interviews experts about new Georgia Tech study findings on the BioLab fire's chemical plume and its connection to Kenny Johnson's death and a wrongful death lawsuit.

2. 

   29 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Still Worth Looking

   Host Sarah Ferris interviews environmental scientist Dr. Emily Carter about ongoing concerns regarding chromium 6 exposure following the BioLab fire, revealing what still needs to be investigated.

3. 

   15 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story - Season 3 Trailer

   Host Pamela Kirkland investigates new scientific research and ongoing questions about accountability following the BioLab fire, offering residents clarity on toxic plume exposure.

4. 

   3 Nov 2025

   Echoes of Conyers

   Pamela investigates the Smitty’s Supply explosion in Roseland, Louisiana, speaking with residents and Lieutenant General Russell Honoré about health concerns and the ongoing scrutiny of BioLab and KIK Consumer Products in this interview episode.

5. 

   27 Oct 2025

   You Can’t Find What You Don’t Look For

   Officials face scrutiny as the episode uncovers missing tests and hidden dioxins after the BioLab fire, highlighting the persistence of local voices demanding accountability.

6. 

   20 Oct 2025

   The Biggest Company You've Never Heard Of

   The episode explores BioLab's manufacturing halt in Conyers, linking resident claims, creditor pressure, and market shifts to reveal the impact of corporate decisions on health monitoring and compensation; this is an investigative episode.

7. 

   13 Oct 2025

   ‘A missed opportunity’: The EPA kept a chemical-mapping plane on the ground during the BioLab fire

   Pamela Kirkland reports on the EPA's decision to keep a chemical-mapping plane grounded during the BioLab fire in Conyers, raising questions about missed opportunities for real-time toxic plume assessment; this is an interview.

8. 

   6 Oct 2025

   ‘It's changed a lot with me’

   Families and clinicians explore the ongoing health consequences of the BioLab fire in Conyers, Georgia, examining resident symptoms and emerging research on long-term community health.

9. 

   29 Sept 2025

   Preventable Hazards

   Former BioLab staff reveal corrosion and unsafe storage practices, while neighbors express concerns about lingering contamination, connecting Hurricane Helene to the 2024 fire and BioLab's manufacturing closure.

10. 

    3 Sept 2025

    Season Two Trailer

    Host Pamela Kirkland interviews former employees and community members about disturbing questions surrounding safety and accountability at a Georgia chemical plant.

11. 

    12 May 2025

    Now What?

    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.

12. 

    5 May 2025

    "I Don’t Know What I’ve Been Exposed To"

    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.

13. 

    28 Apr 2025

    After the Smoke Cleared

    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.

14. 

    14 Apr 2025

    The Business

    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.

15. 

    7 Apr 2025

    'It's Always FireLab'

    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.

16. 

    31 Mar 2025

    Chemical Smoke Everywhere

    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.

17. 

    24 Mar 2025

    Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story Trailer

    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.

Inside a recent episode

‘The Puzzle Pieces Are Starting to Come Together’

Published 6 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Oh, my goodness. So now we have more information than we did a year and a half ago. Kenny and his wife, Dr. Shamita Johnson, lived less than three miles from Biolab. According to the complaint, they left their home the morning of the fire and stayed at a hotel outside Rockdale County. They came back home after the evacuation order was lifted. The lawsuit says Kenny was exposed to the smoke and chemicals from the fire and began coughing and having trouble breathing. Nine days after the fire, on October 8th, Kenny went to the state capitol for that public hearing about Biolab. The complaint says his cause of death was acute respiratory failure complicated by something called bronchocentric reactive airway disease. […]

Who has been a guest on Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Russell Honoré
• Former BioLab staff
• neighbors

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

17,700,364

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

29 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 38 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

18

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

51

Contact Manufacturing Danger: The BioLab Story

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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