Residents in a wealthy part of California are expressing serious concerns that a rare form of cancer is affecting more individuals than anticipated, possibly linked to the high use of pesticides in the area.
In Ladera Ranch, located in Orange County, locals have been sharing worries after finding out that at least six children nearby have been diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma—a type of bone and soft tissue cancer that only impacts approximately 200 to 240 people across the country each year.
According to the residents, their own investigation has uncovered what looks like unusually elevated pesticide and herbicide application in the area, potentially impacting over 60 households.
Back in the day, researchers have explored connections between pesticide exposure and certain childhood cancers, including Ewing’s sarcoma. However, a direct link hasn’t been established yet. Still, residents argue that the significant amount of chemicals being used in their community cannot be overlooked.
“This situation goes back to 2016 and has involved various groups within the Ladera Ranch community,” resident and attorney Jackie French mentioned. “Many of these groups have faced challenges… resulting in people moving away. So, each effort has sort of fizzled out.”
French got involved after a neighbor’s 17-year-old son was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma. Tragically, after battling the illness, the young man, Brody Mattson, passed away in March. His mother, Megan, later shared a post on a local Facebook group asking residents if any family members had also been diagnosed with cancer.
“In this Facebook group, which has around 25,000 members in our city, we got 62 replies,” French shared. “Some people told me that on their street alone, three individuals had developed brain tumors.”
Moreover, locals have reported a worrying number of pets also developing cancer.
While these claims haven’t been independently substantiated and don’t confirm a cancer cluster, French insists there’s enough evidence to merit further investigation.
Over the past couple of months, she’s been delving into pesticide records, filing requests for public documents, and documenting the area’s landscaping practices.
“We don’t know definitively what’s causing this, and we can’t say if there’s an official cancer cluster yet,” she stated. “But it’s quite unusual to see so many cancer instances in one area, especially these rare types.”
According to French, records indicate that 17 different pesticides and herbicides were applied in Ladera Ranch just in June, with spraying happening almost daily.
She pointed out that, while the notification technically meets California’s regulations, it’s only available on a hard-to-find website. French also questioned why synthetic pesticides are still being used when residents have repeatedly asked for a switch to organic landscaping.
“We found that Ladera Ranch uses significantly more pesticides than surrounding cities,” she noted. “The amounts are alarming, and spraying multiple chemicals every day doesn’t make sense to me. I just can’t understand why they don’t stop when we ask them to.”
Residents are also worried about measures taken for rat control.
French mentioned that poison pellets for squirrels are used monthly in the area, with some homeowners expressing fear that their dogs could ingest poisonous substances after walks or track residues into their homes.
“We’re genuinely concerned about dogs eating these pellets or getting chemicals on their paws,” she explained, noting that many dogs in the area have developed cancer or are excessively chewing at their feet after going outside.
One resident who chose to leave, Karan Bell, mentioned her struggles to convince community leaders to address these issues over the years.
The 52-year-old described seeing crews spraying near her children’s school, saying, “I felt like I was being dismissed, thinking, ‘This isn’t right.'”
Having previously suffered from toxic mold poisoning, Bell recalled feeling alarmed when she noticed landscaping workers in full protective gear spraying chemicals near children, often experiencing headaches after such applications.
When she requested safety information, she faced pushback from both local authorities and the town.
Bell ultimately moved away in 2019, concerned for her children and dog’s health due to reports of cancer, strokes, and other illnesses among neighbors and their pets.
The California Cancer Registry reportedly informed French in May that they had started looking into these cancer cases, but warned that the process could take a while. French also stated that the Orange County Health Department reopened its investigation following renewed calls from the community.
Both agencies were contacted for comments but did not respond.
In a statement, the Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation expressed sympathy for affected families but emphasized that no direct evidence links local landscaping operations to these illnesses.
“Our thoughts are with all children and their families during this tough time,” they stated.
The group mentioned they are collaborating with public health officials and aren’t aware of any decisions that specifically connect community landscaping practices to the reported cancer cases.
LARMAC clarified that they adhere to an integrated pest management program aimed at reducing synthetic pesticide use, emphasizing prevention and organic options whenever possible.
They also announced plans to form an advisory committee consisting of residents, board members, staff, and landscaping experts to evaluate current practices and suggest improvements.
French articulated that while the committee is a welcomed step, residents are still frustrated by the longevity of their concerns.
Bruce Blumberg, an environmental health expert at UC Irvine, has advocated for minimizing pesticide use and stated that the residents’ worries deserve serious attention, even without a confirmed link.
“If I were a parent in that area, I’d strongly push for the elimination of pesticide use,” he commented. “It’s unreasonable to jeopardize health for the sake of aesthetics like weeding or maintaining certain vegetation.”
Blumberg added that many California cities have successfully switched to organic-focused landscape management programs and claimed that communities should adopt safer alternatives whenever they can.
