Wealthy Socal City Halts Chemical Landscaping Amid Cancer Surge

WHO:

Yahoo - The community involved is Ladera Ranch, a wealthy Southern California community.

Yahoo - Brody Matteson, a 17-year-old who died after his cancer treatment resulted in secondary leukemia, is one of the children diagnosed with cancer.

Yahoo - Bill Essayli, First Assistant US Attorney, is requesting an investigation from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

WHAT:

Yahoo - Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC) is halting the use of landscape chemicals associated with its work.

Yahoo - LARMAC has established an Ad Hoc Landscape Pest Management Advisory Committee to review the current program.

Yahoo - LARMAC 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.

Yahoo - The temporary pause applies only to routine landscape maintenance applications within LARMAC-maintained common areas.

WHERE:

Yahoo - The location of the events is Ladera Ranch, California.

WHEN:

Yahoo - The temporary pause on chemical landscaping products is set for 60 days.

WHY:

Yahoo - The action is in response to a disturbing spike in rare cancer cases among children in Ladera Ranch, including multiple cases of Ewing sarcoma.

Yahoo - Parents have raised concerns about the extensive use of landscape pesticides and herbicides throughout Ladera Ranch's roughly 4,000 acres, questioning whether these chemicals could be contributing to the illnesses.

Yahoo - Bill Essayli requested a federal investigation due to reports of multiple pediatric Ewing sarcoma cases within the community and concerns about a potential cancer cluster.

HOW:

Yahoo - LARMAC is implementing a temporary pause on certain landscape maintenance products as part of their response to community health concerns.

(UPDATED July 18, 2026 01:26 UTC)

In Ladera Ranch, California, the local maintenance corporation is taking significant action by halting the use of certain landscape chemicals for 60 days due to rising concerns about rare cancer cases among children, including Ewing sarcoma. This decision follows the tragic death of 17-year-old Brody Matteson, who developed secondary leukemia after cancer treatment, prompting First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli to request an investigation from the EPA. To further address these health concerns, Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation has formed an advisory committee to review its landscape pest management practices.