"This is one of the very few issues in this city where there is one hundred percent unanimity on what should be done," added City Councilor Alice Wolf, who said the toxic agents pose "a clear and present danger" to the community.

ADL is testing toxic substances 10,000 times more lethal than any other research laboratory in the city, said Edward Cyr, a member of Cambridge's 16- member scientific advisory board.

Calling ADI an example of "corporate irresponsibility," Cyr added that the firm is only out to get one of the 18 federal contracts for nerve gas research which have been awarded in the past two years.

"This is a misguided corporate policy that cannot in the long run win," said City Councilor Francis H. Duehay '55, who noted that the city is currently considering regulating, not banning, about a dozen supertoxins.

Panacea

Triner said that ADI has considered moving out of Cambridge and that the city would have no trouble locating other firms to pay municipal taxes.

"It certainly would say something about Cambridge if we chose to leave," Triner said, adding that ADI has advised the Center for Disease Control about building a new high security laboratory in Atlanta.

ADL president John F. Magee will meet Thursday night with residents of the neighborhood surrounding the laboratory and members of the North Cambridge Toxic Alert Group.