An outbreak of an extremely rare cancer in a ritzy Southern California community has drawn the attention of Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutor.
In a letter sent Thursday to US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli called for an investigation into the Ladera Ranch community.
“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,” Essayli wrote in the letter, obtained by The California Post.
At least six children connected to the Orange County master-planned community have been diagnosed with the rare bone and soft tissue cancer since 2013, according to affected families.
One 17-year-old, Brody Matteson, died after complications during cancer treatment.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Cancer Institute recognize that unusual patterns of cancer and community concerns regarding potential environmental exposures should be evaluated through a systematic, science-based process,” the letter states.
Essayli asked the EPA to “conduct an appropriate investigation to determine if there are any environmental factors causing this cancer cluster, and to determine whether any federal environmental laws are implicated.”
The federal request comes as Bond Legal conducts its own investigation into the cases.
The law firm said it is confidentially gathering information from families whose children lived in or regularly visited Ladera Ranch and were diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma or other childhood cancers.
The Orange County Health Care Agency is also reviewing the matter.
In a statement to The Post, the agency said representatives from the California Cancer Registry, the UCI Cancer Center and the Orange County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office met after the county health officer initiated outreach in response to ongoing community concerns earlier this year.
“The group agreed to conduct an updated review of cancer data.
Findings from this analysis will be shared in upcoming weeks with the County Health Officer as soon as they are available,” the agency said.
Ewing sarcoma affects only about 200 to 240 children and teens nationwide each year, according to the American Cancer Society.
“The concentration of cases in a single community is deeply troubling, especially to those who live there,” said Candice Bond, managing partner of Bond Legal.
The law firm said it is seeking information from parents whose children lived in or frequently visited Ladera Ranch, attended local schools, churches, parks, camps or sports facilities, and were diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma, leukemia, lymphoma or another rare childhood cancer.
It is also asking families to share information about possible exposure to pesticides, herbicides, contaminated soil or water, construction materials or other environmental hazards.
The firm said its investigation could examine historical pesticide and herbicide applications, landscaping and pest-control practices, soil and groundwater conditions, former agricultural land uses, imported fill materials, schools and parks, nearby commercial operations and public records.
The renewed attention follows months of advocacy by local parents, who have questioned whether extensive pesticide and herbicide use throughout the 4,000-acre community could be contributing to the illnesses.
