Child cancer cases in California sparks calls for toxic pesticides ban
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - Child cancer cases in and near Ladera Ranch in California are sparking calls for a toxic pesticides ban.
In the master plan community of Ledera Ranch, moms like Jessica Keach believe something is causing kids to get cancer.
"I think that people need to listen and wake up and realize something's happening to our children. This is not random," Keach shared.
She says her 18-year-old daughter Haven had her right foot amputated after getting diagnosed with a rare cancer called synovial sarcoma, which health experts say affects about 1,000 people a year in the entire country.
"I'll always remember the day I'll cry thinking about it because it's it's the worst day for a parent," Keach shared.
Megan Madison also lives in Ledera Ranch. Her son Brody died in March due to a rare cancer called Ewing's sarcoma.
NBC4 has now learned of about a dozen sarcoma cancer cases in children in Ledera Ranch and other Orange County cities.
While there is no official cause and effect data between pesticides and these types of cancers, families in Ledera Ranch are fighting for their community to use non-toxic pesticides.
"Unless there's a compelling reason to continue to use toxic chemicals, it makes a lot of sense to not use them," said Dr. Bruce Blunberg with UC Irvine.
Dr. Blunberg says there is data to show there is a correlation between cancers and pesticide use.
In 2016, he joined activists in Fighting for Irvine to ban toxic pesticides and wand. Irvine has since made exceptions to the rule for open spaces and trails.
When asked if cities and jurisdictions need to wait for a direct correlation, or a direct cause and effect to make a change, Blunberg said, "I don't think so. What's the cost? It's not as if we're talking about malaria or some very serious disease. We're talking about weeds. for the most part."
Keach and others in Ledera Ranch are urging their homeowners associations to find a safer alternative to toxic chemicals.
"These are our children, these are our babies and I raised my babies in Ledera thinking it was safe and maybe there's no safe community but if we can do better we need to do better," Keach remarked.
