NJ cancer cluster neighborhood now has nearly 400 cases as new tests point to troubling carcinogen levels

In February, a man started plotting out cancer cases in his hometown of Keyport, New Jersey.He recorded as many as 28 people with cancer on a single street.Now nearly 400 cancer cases in the area have been identified, including people with cancers of the lungs, prostate, brain, stomach, colon, thyroid, breast, appendix and kidneys.Locals fear they could be living in a cancer cluster, where an unusual amount of cancer cases appear within an area within a certain period of time.

The American Cancer Society estimates there are nearly 1,000 in the country.So far, no such official designation has been made in Keyport.But more residents are reporting serious illnesses.Locals say the cause is toxins from the nearby Aeromarine Landfill getting into the water and soil.The NJ Department of Health did test the site in 2010 and found an abundance of carcinogens.

Despite repeated violations and nearly a million dollars racked up in unpaid fines, cleanup has remained incomplete, says Rep.Frank Pallone Jr.Now, 16 years after the last official state test, independent testing showed much of the same chemicals are still there.Thirteen wells were tested at the Aeromarine landfill, NJ.com reports.

All of the wells showed at least one metal at levels above state standards.These metals include arsenic, lead, aluminum, cobalt, iron, manganese, and sodium.Arsenic is associated with cancer risk, while lead can harm the brain and nervous system, especially in children.Aluminum in water can increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s, while iron can accumulate in the body, affecting organs.Cancer-causing benzene was also found in five of the 13 wells above standards.

Benzene is associated with blood cancers like acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Vinyl chloride was also found in five of the 13 wells above acceptable levels.This chemical is also a known carcinogen, associated with liver, brain, lung cancers, lymphoma and leukemia.Four wells had both benzene and vinyl chloride above standar...