This comes after at least six children in one Orange County community were diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer that develops in bone or soft tissue surrounding bone.
“My office has been made aware of recent reports of multiple pediatric Ewing sarcoma cases within the Ladera Ranch community. Residents are raising concerns about a potential cancer cluster and whether environmental factors may warrant further evaluation,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli in a letter on July 16.
Essayli asked EPA administrator Lee Zeldin to investigate the pediatric cancer cases.
Ewing sarcoma is an uncommon cancer that mainly affects children, adolescents, and young adults. It usually begins in the bone but can also develop in nearby soft tissue.
Keetch said Haven underwent an amputation of her right foot during treatment. Synovial sarcoma affects about 1,000 people in the United States each year.
“I think people need to listen and wake up and realize something is happening to our children,” Keetch said on NBC Los Angeles. “This is not random.”
Essayli cited guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute, stating that “unusual patterns of cancer and community concerns regarding potential environmental exposures should be evaluated through a systematic, science-based process.”
Possible Cause of Cancer Cases
Residents have questioned whether pesticide or herbicide use could be contributing to cancer cases and have launched a petition urging the Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation to ban synthetic pesticides in common areas.
The residents stated that the most commonly used herbicide in the community is Lifeline, also known as glufosinate-ammonium.
“Lifeline is banned across the European Union and the United Kingdom. Its label states that it is classified for reproductive toxicity and “may damage fertility or the unborn.” The label also states, “Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause neurological disturbances,” states the petition.
“The concentration of cases in a single community is deeply troubling, especially to those who live there,” Candice Bond, the firm’s managing partner, said.
“Families deserve transparency about what their children may have been exposed to,” Bond said. “When rare cancers appear in clusters, every environmental factor — no matter how routine it may seem — must be examined carefully.”
