Several people in the Whitney Pier neighborhood pointed to the brook behind their homes as one of the sources affecting their health, as well as the health of their animals and vegetation.
"All the dogs on the street died with cancer in the past three years," resident Debbie Ouelette said.
"This is a toxic area. There is only one dog left.."
Mr. Chisholm looked at the contaminated brook as well as the larger toxic sites nearby -- the coke ovens, located a stone's throw away, and the adjacent tar ponds.
"It's phenomenal, really, the degree of contamination," he said. "It's a very serious problem."
Two recent tests in and around the brook revealed arsenic levels 18 times higher than acceptable limits as well as elevated levels of heavy metals.
Both Mr. Chisholm and a colleague, MP Peter Mancini, echoed the same sentiments Friday - evacuate the 12 families until it's safe.
"We got all of that chemical soup and all of these hot spots around here," Mr. Chisholm said, stretching his arm towards the signs that clearly read: Human Health Hazard.
"The land is so heavily contaminated that there are spontaneous fires breaking out all the time.
"And then at the tar ponds you have tonnes and tonnes of raw sewage pumping in there every day.
"I wanted to meet the folks here and hopefully give them assurances that we're going to continue to battle the government to do the right thing," he said.
Mr. Mancini said a memorandum of understanding is being drafted by the federal government to clean up the site.
"The issue is not going away," he said.
"Even if it takes 25 years, we don't care how long it takes, so long as at the end of three or five years, the federal government doesn't have a loophole to pull back."
The group overseeing the cleanup of the area says moving the families out is not in their mandate.
"We're a long way away from finishing with the scientific work," said Mike Britten of the Joint Action Group on Environmental Clean-up.
"JAG is an observer, watching the science and watching the events unfold. The decision on relocation is an issue for government."
But government isn't prepared to do that just yet.
The provincial Transportation and Public Works Department did, however, order more tests this week.
"I've spoken to the residents and I appreciate their concerns," said provincial Transportation Minister Clifford Huskilson. This situation is taking a long time because of the three levels of government involved, he said.
"We have to ensure we have all the facts so that we make the right decisions for the people of Frederick Street."
But resident Juanita McKenzie said further tests are frustrating.
"The guidelines were set up to protect the public and twice they've tested the site and results have come over the limits. How much more do you need? What's the problem here?"
She said moving is the only answer and questioned why Premier Russell MacLellan has been so silent.
"He's from Sydney and we're kind of wondering where he's at. We'd like for him to come down and talk to us. He knows what we're living (with) ... Why isn't he here?"
Mr. MacLellan couldn't be reached for comment Friday.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chisholm said the province's response is poor.
"The residents of this area have appealed to their government for help ... What they've gotten are air monitors that weren't plugged in, a flimsy snow fence ... and an offensive dismissal by their elected provincial representative."
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