Concerns Rise Over Cancer Cases in Keyport, New Jersey

Residents of Keyport, New Jersey, are increasingly anxious as reports of cancer cases in their community continue to rise. Investigations by environmental officials suggest the presence of contaminants from a former landfill nearby.

The New Jersey Department of Health defines a cancer cluster as an unusually high number of similar cancer cases within a specific group over a certain period. A study conducted in June by NJ.com identified 370 cancer cases in the region, raising alarms about a potential cancer cluster. Investigative journalist Karin Price Mueller remarked that many locals she interviewed felt their conditions were not hereditary.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) referenced a 2010 study revealing pollutants in the soil above the water table, including substances like benzene, arsenic, and PCBs.

While a definitive link is still unverified, residents along with local officials are calling for a thorough investigation into the landfill.

“So many people who have reported to us said that they had genetic testing done,” Mueller stated. “And they were told, ‘No it’s not a genetic cause. It’s environmental.’”

Keyport’s Councilman Robert Bergen pointed out that the owner of the Aeromarine landfill faced hefty fines for improper closure of the site, leading to years of legal disputes, state cleanup orders, and heightened health worries among nearby residents.

“The borough then again in 2021 took the landowner in court to try and compel the cleanup of the site, and that case was dismissed, and the DEP was ordered at that time to clean it up,” Bergen added.

According to CBS News, a former resident of Keyport started marking red X’s on Google Maps for every neighbor diagnosed with cancer. This effort revealed a total of 40 cases at the time, a figure confirmed by Congressman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.).

“Immediate concern is to see if we can do some screening to determine if there’s a causal relationship between the cancers and the site, but then the site has to be remediated,” Pallone commented.

Another resident, Brian Hagman, marked his home with an “X.” He shared that his grandparents and aunt once lived there and all had received cancer diagnoses.

“Two of my uncles have cancer,” Hagman said. “It makes you wonder, is it natural or is it because of the dumps?”

The DEP is currently assessing its next actions, which might include collecting samples and providing data to the state Department of Health to monitor potential cases and assess public health risks.