The school is the first in the area with no basement. The city installs a storm drain that punctures a few of the cement walls. Late 1960s Pressure of a growing population causes the city to sell the land for development. The Environmental Protection Agency was created. Residents are exposed to toxic fumes and pools of chemicals bubbling to the surface.
Neighborhood children play games with contaminated objects and soil.
And spontaneous fires occur underground and above ground. The community starts to realize that there is an extraordinarily high rate of cancer, respiratory illness and birth defects in the area. When children get cut or scratched, it takes an abnormal amount of time to heal, with severe infections occurring frequently. The residents pressure the government to take environmental tests on the rain and snow. The tests reveal high levels of contamination.