New Jersey neighborhood cancer cluster includes 28 on one street

A troubling trend has emerged in a neighborhood in Keyport, NJ, where a former resident has been documenting a concerning number of cancer diagnoses among his childhood neighbors. Rusty Morris, 46, created a map with red X’s marking the houses where cancer had struck. The map revealed 28 X’s just on First Street and 41 throughout the borough of Keyport.

Many suspect that the nearby dump, which was closed in 1979, may be the source of the cancer cases. The landfill has been leaking carcinogenic chemicals into the air, water, and soil for over 50 years, according to local reports and environmental assessments. The site, known as Aeromarine Industrial Park, was once an aircraft hub before becoming a dumping ground in 1962.

Despite multiple studies highlighting the presence of carcinogens like benzene, lead, arsenic, vinyl chloride, and polychlorinated biphenyls at the site, the property owners have been cited several times for improper closure. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued fines amounting to almost $900,000 last year.

While experts agree that further investigation is needed to determine the extent of the issue, the American Cancer Society defines cancer clusters as patterns of cancer cases in a specific area. Keyport has not yet been officially classified as a cancer cluster, but studies have linked the Aeromarine site to various types of cancers.

The legacy landfill predates stricter environmental regulations put in place in the 1980s, leading to hazardous waste being disposed of without proper safeguards. The state’s Department of Environmental Protection has stated its commitment to ensuring the site’s proper closure to protect public health and the environment.

Rusty Morris continues to update his map with new cases, underscoring the urgency for action. Dr. Scarlett Gomez, a professor at the University of California, emphasizes the need for immediate cleanup, regardless of the official designation of a cancer cluster. The community in Keyport remains vigilant, calling for thorough investigations and remediation efforts to address the concerning health trends in the neighborhood.