Mississippi toxic cleanup closes Louisiana wetlands

August 5, 1980

Coast Guard officials say the recovery of about 25,000 pounds of the toxic wood preservative pentachlorophenol (PCP) that spilled into the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet July 22 is nearly complete. But the cleanup efforts have worsened contamination and led to the closing of 400 square miles of seafood-rich Louisiana marshes and waterways.

Fisherman fear the state's seafood industry will suffer, even in areas unaffected by the chemical spill.