A wealthy Southern California community with a disturbing spike in rare cancer cases among children is taking action.
The community of Ladera Ranch has seen a number of Ewing sarcoma diagnoses among children dating back to 2013, with additional cases emerging in recent years. Among them was 17-year-old Brody Matteson, who died after his cancer treatment resulted in secondary leukemia.
Now, Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC), the company responsible for the landscaping and maintenance for the community, is halting the use of landscape chemicals associated with its work.
LARMAC established an Ad Hoc Landscape Pest Management Advisory Committee, made of homeowners and Board members, to review the current program, The California Post has learned.
“The Board has directed staff to implement a temporary 60-day pause on the routine use of certain landscape maintenance products used for weed management and plant growth regulation,” LARMAC told The Post in a statement.
“This temporary pause applies only to routine landscape maintenance applications within LARMAC-maintained common areas and does not affect activities necessary to protect public health and safety, such as rodent control or responses to invasive pests,” the statement continued.
The Association is also evaluating how it notifies residents of work in the area.
