In the 1960s, the American company Allied Chemical Corp. developed a pesticide called Kepone, which was primarily sold overseas. Kepone is a highly toxic, non-degradable chemical with strong adsorption properties, used for exterminating cockroaches. In 1974, Allied Chemical decided to halt its production, but two employees took over the sales network and patent, continuing production independently. They established a company called Life Science in Hopewell, Virginia, and converted a closed gas station into a production facility. The poor working conditions at this new plant ultimately led to a severe environmental disaster in the James River and Chesapeake Bay.