An old factory shuts down. There are rumours of toxic waste. It could happen anywhere. Suddenly you are told your backyard is poisoned, your children's health at risk. An environmental crisis has creept into your neighborhood.

It happened in Brantford, Ontario. The site was an old factory, where KeepRite made air conditioners and used vats of Trichloroethylene — or TCE — and its derivative, Vinyl Chloride, to strip grease off metal parts until 1994.

"TCE is a probable human carcinogen and vinyl chloride is a known proven cancer causing agent in humans," says the area's medical officer of health, Dr. Doug Sider.

Two years ago, the new owners of the site discovered their problem — when they decided they wanted to flip the property.

The TCE had leaked into the groundwater. Worse it had crept southeast, possibly 12 city blocks.

Suddenly, Brantford's mayor Chris Friel has an environmental crisis. At a public meeting, Friel told 2,000 residents toxic chemicals may be seeping into the homes — and may have been for decades.

The old KeepRite plant is so close to Tim Sywyk's house, he can lean over his deck and stare into the windows.

"I can't believe I live so close to something that could be so hazardous. You would never think in a million years, the company across from you is putting something into the groundwater, it's shameful really."

Sywyk's children are healthy now. But it's the future he's concerned about.

"I worry about developmental problems with the children. What about when they are 16 and wind up with cancers, whatever? I do worry about it."

Resident Daisy LeBeau gathered her own samples for testing.

Daisy LeBeau is a single mom living two blocks from the plant.

"It's like you're literally on pins and needles. It's like what do you do with your kids…do you let them play downstairs in the basement? Do you let them play outside?"

LeBeau's girls have been chronically sick with colds. Her son, Adam, just had surgery for an enlarged kidney. He used to sleep in the damp basement.

Twenty year old Melissa Dobson slept in the basement bedroom of her parent's home for eight years. She's bothered by crippling headaches.

"My vision goes cross-eyes. I get dizzy. Sometimes I pass out. I've been to lots of doctors about it."

There's no proof yet that anyone's gotten sick because of the groundwater, but the basements in Brantford are suspect.

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