NEW YORK (VINnews) — Residents of Ladera Ranch, an affluent community in Orange County, California, are demanding a comprehensive investigation after at least six children from the area were diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer of the bones and soft tissues that is diagnosed in only about 200 to 240 children annually across the United States, according to a report published Sunday in the New York Post.

The concern escalated after 17-year-old Brody Mattson died in March following a battle with the disease. After his death, his mother, Megan Mattson, posted in the community’s Facebook group asking residents to share whether members of their families had been diagnosed with cancer.

According to residents, 62 responses were received within a short period from people reporting cancer cases in their families. Some claimed that several cancer patients lived on the same street, while others reported what they viewed as an unusual number of pets that had also developed cancer. The reports do not constitute proof of a cancer cluster and have not been independently verified, but they prompted residents to begin their own investigation.

The effort is being led by local resident and attorney Jackie Frentz, who reviewed public records and pesticide application documents. Frentz said that during June alone, 17 different types of pesticides and herbicides were used throughout the community, with spraying occurring almost daily.

“We still don’t know what is causing this, or even whether it officially qualifies as a cancer cluster,” Frentz said. “But it is difficult to ignore such an unusual number of cancer cases, especially rare types.”

She noted that the pesticide use complied with California law, but argued that notices about spraying are posted on a website that most residents do not regularly access.

Frentz also questioned why the homeowners’ association continues to use synthetic pesticides despite repeated requests from residents to switch to organic maintenance methods.

Following the complaints, the California Cancer Registry has begun reviewing the reports. In addition, the Orange County Health Care Agency said it is reexamining the cases in response to residents’ calls for a formal investigation.

At this stage, authorities emphasized that it has not been determined that a cancer cluster exists, and no causal link has been established between pesticide use and the cancer cases.