Cancer in Keyport: A Neighborhood’s Growing Concern

A local man began tracking cancer cases on his old street, noticing a disturbing pattern. He marked each affected home with an X and eventually mapped 28 cases on First Street alone, plus another 41 across the town. The numbers sparked alarm among residents and health experts who said the rate seemed unusually high for a small community. Many suspect a nearby landfill, shut in 1979, as the source of toxic leaks that could be fueling illnesses. The site, once an aircraft yard, became a dump in the 1960s and has since leaked hazardous chemicals into air, water, and soil. Investigations by state agencies have found the site contains substances linked to several cancers—lung, breast, bladder, pancreatic, prostate, kidney, leukemia and lymphoma. Yet Keyport has not yet been officially labeled a cancer cluster, which would trigger stronger public health actions.Experts note that the landfill’s age places it under “legacy” status, meaning older regulations did not guard against improper waste disposal. A former engineering professor described the era as a “Wild Wild West” for hazardous waste handling. The state’s environmental department says it is working to close the landfill properly and plans further health studies. In the meantime, residents continue adding new Xs to the map as more cases arise, including survivors and family members who never smoked yet developed cancer. A leading epidemiologist argues that waiting for official designation is risky; cleanup should proceed immediately to protect the community.