KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | State gets Request to Investigate Birth Defects in Kettleman City

State gets Request to Investigate Birth Defects in Kettleman City

By Norma Yuriar

Kettleman City, Calif.  (KMPH News) — A group of mothers in Kettleman City are asking why so many birth defects.  Now, the state of California could be launching an investigation to answer that very question.

"As a new mother I hoped for a normal healthy baby, but when Ivan was born I was surprised, he had a cleft palate," Daria Hernandez says her son has undergone two surgeries to reconstruct his upper lip.

Eleven month old Ashley Alvarez didn't live long enough to get that opportunity, neither did America Romero.  She was four months old when she died.

"This is not a coincidence, this is too much," America's mother Magdalena Romero said during an interview with KMPH News.  "If this was a coincidence there wouldn't be five babies."

The group of mothers may soon know why their children were affected.

The Kings County Board is requesting a formal investigation by the state.

"We look forward to hearing what those results are," Kings County Supervisor Richard Valle said.  "We have made a decision to request an investigation, an on the ground investigation where folks from the state would come down to Kettleman City and speak to folks."

It's some of those same people that blame a nearby toxic waste facility for the problem and they have environmental activists on their side.

"When you have 5 out of 20 babies in a 14month period that are born with severe birth defects and three of them die, we don't buy it for a second that it's random," Greenaction Spokesman Bradley Angel said.

The pending investigation by the California Department of Public Health could take anywhere from five months two years to complete.

The Kings County Health Department says it does not have the resources or experience to do it themselves.

"They have investigated 140 clusters.  We have investigated none in the sense of scientific investigation, yes they have a lot more resources than we do," Kings County Health Officer Michael Mac Lean said.

There is no proof the Chemical Waste Management Hazardous Waste landfill is to blame for the health problems or deaths in the area.

Until the group of concerned mothers knows what the problem is residents and environmental activists are asking the Kings County Board of Supervisors to delay a proposed expansion.

"I've received some emails — saying hey Supervisor with this investigation do you feel now that the permit process for Waste Management should come to a halt, right now I feel that's a conversation for next week, for December 22nd," Supervisor Valle said.