Nearly 400 cancer cases have been identified in Keyport, New Jersey, a coastal community of over 7,000 residents, prompting concerns about potential environmental toxins from a nearby closed landfill. The identified cancers include those of the lungs, prostate, brain, stomach, colon, thyroid, breast, appendix, and kidneys.
Residents suspect that toxins from the Aeromarine Industrial Park, a landfill that has been closed since 1979, are contaminating the local water and soil. While the New Jersey Department of Health has not officially designated Keyport as a cancer cluster, the number of reported illnesses has grown significantly.
Recent independent testing of 13 wells at the Aeromarine landfill site revealed that all wells contained at least one metal at levels exceeding state standards. These metals include arsenic, lead, aluminum, iron, cobalt, manganese, and sodium. Arsenic is a known carcinogen, while lead can impact the brain and nervous system, particularly in children. Elevated aluminum levels are linked to an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Further testing found cancer-causing chemicals benzene and vinyl chloride in multiple wells. Benzene is associated with blood cancers such as acute myeloid leukemia, while vinyl chloride is linked to liver, brain, and lung cancers, as well as lymphoma and leukemia. Four wells tested positive for both benzene and vinyl chloride above acceptable levels.
An EPA whistleblower also conducted tests outside the landfill and on a homeowner's property, detecting polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dioxin at levels significantly above the EPA's threshold for triggering follow-up testing for human exposure.
Historically, the Aeromarine site operated as a landfill from 1962 until its closure in 1971. The owners have faced numerous violations and accumulated nearly $900,000 in fines from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for failing to properly seal the site. Despite these issues, cleanup efforts have remained incomplete for years.
The New Jersey Department of Health stated that its review of existing and new data does not currently indicate a pathway for human exposure to the contamination from the landfill. However, experts suggest potential routes, such as the movement of carcinogens through soil or contamination of local water supplies, especially given the area's susceptibility to flooding. Journalists investigating the situation have noted that scientists question how definitive conclusions can be drawn about the absence of water contamination pathways.
The department is expected to release its own findings and an analysis of the private reports in September. A company, Pacer Partners, is under contract to acquire the site with plans for waterfront development, but has ruled out residential properties on the land.