Toxic waste still plagues American communities 27 years after the U.S. Government created the Superfund program to clean up the nation's most polluted sites. After 22 years, a toxic site in Flowood, Mississippi makes EPA's final list for cleanup.

In 1985 WLBT News revealed problems associated with Sonford Products in Flowood. A six acre site where two separate chemical processing plants operated.  On the land, workers broke up 2-thousand pound solid blocks and mixed a toxic cocktail of Pentaclorophenol for 17 years. PCP is a wood preservative and pesticide linked to cancer and other fatal diseases.  

Records show, in 1980 the Sonford International plant was closed due to allegations this worker died from poisoning due to exposure to high levels of PCP. The victim;  33 year old Calvin Brown. In 1985 his mother talked with us about her son. "I never dreamed penta was as dangerous as it was until I lost my son." Other workers also came down with strange illnesses. In 1985 Evelyn Freels wife recalled her husband's illness after working at the plant. "His breath when he kissed me smelled like the chemicals. Even when he took his shower you could smell the chemicals." As WLBT first reported, Sonford required little or no protection for it's employees.

In 1985 Sonford Products illegally mixed an explosive chemical concoction, a toxic cloud of fumes was released there were injuries, people were evacuated.  The company was fined by the Federal government. Our investigative reports revealed an even more disturbing 2-thousand gallon PCP spill. That's when the Fed's took over cleanup from state.

For more, click here.