Keyport, NJ Cancer Cluster and Potential Toxic Exposure
Residents Raise Concerns as Cancer Cases and Environmental Contamination Draw Attention
Residents of Keyport, New Jersey, are seeking answers after nearly 400 cancer cases were reportedly identified in the area, including cases involving cancers of the lung, prostate, brain, stomach, colon, thyroid, breast, appendix and kidneys.
The reports have raised concerns about a possible cancer cluster and whether environmental contamination from the former Keyport Sanitary Landfill at the Aeromarine Industrial Park could have contributed to illnesses in the surrounding community.
However, no official determination has established that the reported cancer cases were caused by the landfill or that Keyport is an official cancer cluster.
New Jersey officials are currently investigating the site and conducting additional environmental testing to determine whether contamination has migrated beyond the landfill and whether a pathway for human exposure exists.
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What Is the Aeromarine Industrial Park?
The Aeromarine site includes the former Keyport Sanitary Landfill, which began operating in 1962 and ceased operations in 1979. NJDEP classifies it as an inactive landfill and is currently overseeing efforts to investigate the site's environmental conditions and ensure its proper closure.
The state has identified ongoing concerns regarding the landfill's closure and post-closure requirements. Between 2021 and 2025, NJDEP issued four enforcement orders involving continuing violations, with total penalties assessed at $1.223 million. Those matters remain pending before the Office of Administrative Law.
What Contamination Has Been Reported?
Environmental investigations have identified contaminants in groundwater and other areas associated with the landfill.
Recent reporting on independent testing has identified elevated levels of several metals, including arsenic and lead, as well as benzene and vinyl chloride in groundwater samples. Benzene and vinyl chloride are recognized carcinogens.
The state is conducting its own testing of groundwater and surrounding surface water. NJDEP began groundwater sampling in May 2026 and surface-water sampling in June 2026 as part of its investigation into the site.
Has the Contamination Been Linked to Cancer in Keyport?
Not at this time.
The reported number of cancer cases has prompted residents to question whether there is an environmental connection, but the available information does not establish that the landfill caused those cancers.
NJDOH has stated that it is awaiting environmental sampling data before conducting a public-health assessment of the potential health implications. NJDEP is specifically investigating whether contamination has migrated off-site and whether a pathway for human exposure exists.
This distinction is important. The presence of hazardous substances does not, by itself, establish that an individual was exposed to those substances or that the exposure caused a particular illness.
What Is the State Doing?
NJDEP and NJDOH are coordinating their response to concerns from the Keyport community.
NJDEP is reviewing historical environmental data, including testing conducted in 2010, while conducting additional sampling of groundwater and surface water around the site. The agency is also overseeing further investigation of soil, groundwater and soil gas at the landfill.
Once sufficient environmental data are available, NJDOH intends to independently review the information and conduct a public-health assessment to evaluate potential health implications from environmental exposures.
The state also reports that Keyport's public drinking water currently meets state and federal drinking-water standards and that the borough's public drinking-water wells are not in the vicinity of the landfill.
Were You or a Loved One Diagnosed With Cancer in Keyport?
If you or a family member developed cancer or another serious illness after living or working near the former Aeromarine Industrial Park, you may have questions about potential environmental exposures and your legal options.
An attorney evaluating a potential environmental exposure claim may consider factors including:
- Where you lived or worked and for how long
- Your proximity to the former landfill
- Available environmental testing and site records
- Potential exposure to contaminated soil, groundwater or other environmental media
- Your medical history and diagnosis
- Other potential causes or risk factors
- Evidence involving other individuals who may have experienced similar exposures or illnesses
