Residents in Ladera Ranch, a community in Orange County, California, are raising concerns about a potential increase in rare childhood cancers, with some investigating a possible link to the community's widespread use of pesticides and herbicides. At least six children in the area have been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone and soft tissue cancer that affects an estimated 200 to 240 children annually in the United States.
Residents believe their own investigations have uncovered an unusually high application of pesticides and herbicides throughout the community, with estimates suggesting over 60 people may be affected. Attorney and resident Jackie French stated that various resident groups have been looking into the issue since 2016. "They have all been pretty much stonewalled," French said. "And many of them ended up moving away, so the movement kind of dies out each time."
French became involved after a neighbor's 17-year-old son, Brody Matteson, died of Ewing sarcoma in March. After Matteson's mother posted in a community Facebook group asking for information on cancer diagnoses, she received 62 responses from approximately 2,000 local residents in that group. Some respondents reported multiple cancer cases on their street, including brain cancer. Residents have also noted a high incidence of cancer in pets.
While these reports have not been independently verified and do not confirm a cancer cluster, they have prompted many residents to seek further examination. French has spent the past two months researching pesticide records and filing public records requests concerning the community's landscaping practices. "We don’t know for sure what is causing this, and we don’t know if it’s an official cancer cluster yet," she said. "We just know it looks highly unusual to have this much cancer, specifically rare forms of it, in our community."
Records reportedly show that 17 different pesticides and herbicides were applied in Ladera Ranch during June alone, with applications occurring nearly daily. French questioned the necessity of such extensive synthetic pesticide use, especially when residents have requested a transition to organic landscaping. "When I looked into the data, Ladera Ranch is using an insane amount of pesticides compared to any other city," French stated. "It’s the sheer volume and the fact that they are overlapping different chemicals day after day."
Concerns have also been raised regarding rodent control methods, with residents worried that squirrel poison pellets spread monthly could be ingested by pets or tracked into homes. Karan Bell, a former resident who moved away in 2019, cited repeated resistance from town and district officials when she tried to raise concerns about landscaping crews spraying chemicals near schools. Bell, who had previously experienced toxic mold poisoning, became alarmed after observing crews in protective gear spraying near children and often experienced headaches afterward.
The California Cancer Registry reportedly confirmed in May that it had begun reviewing the reported cases, a process that could take several months. The Orange County Health Care Agency has also reportedly reopened its review following renewed calls from residents for a formal investigation. Official comment from these agencies was not immediately available.
The Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC), which manages landscaping, expressed sympathy for affected families. In a statement, LARMAC said it is cooperating with public health authorities and is "not aware of any determination" that links the town’s landscaping practices to the reported cancer cases. The organization stated that it follows an Integrated Pest Management program designed to minimize synthetic pesticide use and plans to form an advisory committee to review current practices.
Bruce Blumberg, a UC Irvine environmental health expert who advocates for reduced pesticide use, suggested that the residents' concerns warrant serious consideration, even without an established causal link. "If I were a parent living in that area, I would be strongly advocating for elimination of pesticide use," Blumberg said. "In my opinion, it is unreasonable to risk people’s health for the cosmetic elimination of weeds and unwanted vegetation."