At times, things go wrong even when you try with all your might to ensure they are right. It was in the 1970s, that Times Beach, a small town in Missouri, attempted to solve a common problem for dirt roads by spreading residual oil to reduce dust. Years later, it was discovered that some of that material contained dioxin, a highly toxic substance that would trigger the permanent relocation of the Times Beach population. The situation escalated further after a severe flood of the Meramec River in December 1982. With the town flooded and contamination already identified, federal authorities advised residents not to return.
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