Editing Novartis (section)

===Mid-1990s controversy===
In the mid-1990s, state and federal health and environmental agencies identified an increased incidence of childhood cancers in [[Toms River, New Jersey]], from the 1970–1995 period. Multiple investigations by state and federal environmental and health agencies indicated that the likely source of the increased cancer risk was contamination from Toms River Chemical Plant (then operated by Ciba-Geigy), which had been in operation since 1952, and the Reich Farm/[[Union Carbide]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Belton |first=Thomas J. |title=Protecting New Jersey's Environment: From Cancer Alley to the New Garden State |date=2011 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-4887-6 |pages=21–22 |language=en}}</ref>
The area was designated a [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] [[Superfund]] [[List of Superfund sites|site]] in 1983 after an underground plume of toxic chemicals was identified. The following year, a discharge pipe was shut down after a sinkhole at the corner of Bay Avenue and Vaughn Avenue revealed that it had been leaking. The plant ceased operation in 1996. A follow-up study from the 1996–2000 period indicated that while there were more cancer cases than expected, rates had significantly fallen and the difference was statistically insignificant compared to normal statewide cancer rates. Since 1996, the Toms River water system has been subject to the most stringent water testing in New Jersey and is considered safe for consumption. [[Dan Fagin]]'s ''[[Toms River (book)|Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation]]'', the 2014 [[Pulitzer Prize]] winning book, examined the issue of industrial pollution at the site in detail.