A neighbor had phoned the police two months before with suspicions about the couple, saying toxic chemicals were leaking from their balcony.

In some past mine disasters, processing chemicals have leaked into waterways; waste rock has become acidic and leached heavy metals.

For decades, emergency-response teams approaching train wrecks have peered at the signs through binoculars to see what dangerous chemicals might be leaking.

Examination of the building showed that the chemicals had leaked through the concrete floor deep into the soil below - in some places to a depth of nearly 20 feet.

They also said they did not know why a dangerous chemical was leaking from France's fast-breeder reactor, the only such commercial reactor in Western Europe.

For as long as anyone here can remember, deadly chemicals have been leaking from the nearby Lipari landfill.

The chemicals entered the atmosphere or leaked into the streams.

There must be a crack in the pipe and a chemical was leaking.

But water is a sensitive issue in the 44-square-mile township, where there are two federally designated environmental Superfund sites where chemicals have leaked into the ground.

The workers going into the basement will have monitors that constantly check the air to ensure that the chemical is not leaking.