A notable cancer outbreak in a wealthy Southern California neighborhood has raised alarms for federal authorities in Los Angeles.
This past Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Esseri sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin urging an investigation into the Ladera Ranch area.
In the letter, which was shared with the California Post, Esseri expressed concern regarding multiple cases of pediatric Ewing sarcoma reported by community residents. “There are worries about a possible cancer cluster and whether environmental issues need further scrutiny,” he noted.
Since 2013, families have reported that at least six children from the master-planned community have been diagnosed with this rare type of cancer. Tragically, one affected child, 17-year-old Brody Matteson, passed away due to treatment complications.
The letter emphasized that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute acknowledge the need to evaluate community fears about unusual cancer occurrences and environmental exposures through a methodical, scientific approach.
Esseri also called on the EPA to “conduct an appropriate investigation” to uncover whether environmental factors are contributing to this cancer cluster and whether federal laws might be violated.
Support for a thorough investigation is echoed by Rep. Diane Dixon, who stated that it’s crucial to investigate all possible sources of cancer in Ladera Ranch and assure community safety.
Meanwhile, Bond Legal is conducting its own investigation by gathering confidential information from families residing in or regularly visiting Ladera Ranch whose children have been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma or other childhood cancers.
The Orange County Health Department is also looking into the situation. Representatives from various health organizations convened after the county health officer initiated outreach efforts to address community anxieties earlier this year.
A recent agreement among these organizations aims to review cancer data further, with results expected to be shared with county health officials soon.
According to the American Cancer Society, Ewing’s sarcoma affects only about 200 to 240 youngsters each year across the U.S. “It’s alarming to see such a concentration of cases in one area, especially for those living there,” Candice Bond of Bond Legal remarked.
The firm is actively requesting information about any potential exposure to harmful substances like pesticides and herbicides from families who live in or visit Ladera Ranch along with details on local schools, parks, and other community spaces.
This renewed focus on the situation follows ongoing advocacy from local conservationists, who are concerned that the widespread use of pesticides and herbicides in the area might be linked to the rising cancer cases.
