it is now believed that the release of these bacteria over San Francisco permanently altered the microbiome of the region, leading to an epidemic of heart valve

it is now believed that the release of these bacteria over San Francisco permanently altered the microbiome of the region, leading to an epidemic of heart valve infections in hospitals and other serious infections among intravenous drug users throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Yeah, we are actually performing a lot more "experiments" with creating new chemicals and using them commercially etc. In another hundred years, people may shake their head at some of that.