 Today, the Gorham Manufacturing Company is highly responsible for a significant amount of pollution in the water, soil and air in and around the pond.During the 19th century and majority of the 20th century, there were few regulations and restrictions on the companies' use of potentially toxic materials.Gorham frequently used cleaners that contained polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), solvents, heavy metals such as lead, and other pollutants.