Orange County resident reports skin reaction after pesticide use amid cancer concerns

A Ladera Ranch resident who said she developed intense itching and bruising after walking through an area where the herbicide Specticle G had been applied is pressing the homeowners association to suspend all pesticide use. Jenny Granero, a mother of three and founder of the advocacy group Ladera Goes Organic, reported the symptoms to poison-control, the HOA’s landscaping contractor O’Connell Landscape Management, and the Orange County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office.

"I don’t recall the last time I’ve ever had anything like that," Granero told the California Post, describing the rash as widespread and lasting several days.

The HOA, Ladera Ranch Maintenance Corporation (LARMAC), responded by pausing Specticle G applications for an initial 60-day period, later extended to 120 days through mid-November. Granero, who is now running for a seat on LARMAC’s board, says she wants a broader moratorium on all pesticides while a review is conducted, and she is advocating for advance notifications to residents via email and text alerts.

"Either I could change policy from the inside, or I could be on the outside chasing and exposing myself," she said of her candidacy.

The community has identified up to 12 cases of rare cancers such as Ewing sarcoma and synovial sarcoma in the area, with at least six deaths, prompting the California Department of Public Health to investigate cancer rates. The HOA argues that switching to organic landscaping would be costly, citing a monthly expense of $44,000 for current certified landscaping services. Residents, however, contend that the association has not sought competitive bids for cheaper greener alternatives.

The dispute was highlighted at a recent LARMAC meeting where residents voiced strong opposition to continued pesticide use, while a board member defended the chemicals as necessary for maintaining the neighborhood’s appearance. No official link between the herbicide and the cancers has been established, and officials have not confirmed a causal relationship.