Ladera Ranch, a community in Southern California, has temporarily suspended the use of certain landscaping chemicals as a response to a concerning cluster of rare childhood cancer cases. The Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC), which manages landscaping for the community, announced a 60-day pause on routine applications of weed management and plant growth regulation products.
This decision comes after multiple children in the community were diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone and soft tissue cancer, with cases dating back to 2013 and additional diagnoses emerging in recent years. Among those affected was 17-year-old Brody Matteson, who died from secondary leukemia following his cancer treatment.
LARMAC has formed an Ad Hoc Landscape Pest Management Advisory Committee, comprised of homeowners and board members, to review the current pest management program. The temporary pause affects routine landscaping maintenance in LARMAC-managed common areas but does not extend to applications necessary for public health and safety, such as rodent control or responses to invasive pests. The association is also examining its communication practices with residents regarding landscaping work.
