RESIDENT OUTSIDE HOUSE SHE USED TO OWN IN FORMER LOVE CANAL NEIGHBORHOOD., 2003-07-18 (photo)

Luella Kenny, whose 7-year old son died of exposure to dioxin and other chemicals that leaked into the backyard creek where he used to play, stands next to the house where she used to live in a section of the area formerly known as the Love Canal in Niagara Falls, New York, July 18, 2003. Twenty five years ago, Love Canal was America's most notorious toxic dump, where leaking poisons from waste dumped by the Hooker Chemical Company (now Occidental Chemical) forced thousands to flee their homes and awoke the nation to the dangers of pollution. The U.S. government eventually declared emergency evacuations of the area in 1978 and 1980, and relocated more than 800 families and reimbursed them for their homes, which were destroyed. The area seen here, which was not destroyed, has been partially re-occupied and is now known as Black Creek Village. Picture taken July 18, 2003. REUTERS/Mike Segar/FEATURE/ENVIRONMENT-LOVECANAL MS/HB