SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. — Satellite Beach leaders are expanding testing for cancer causing chemicals in the groundwater. 

The city council approved the plan and budget for it Wednesday night. It was prompted after more than 50 cases of people under the age of 40 getting cancer in the past 8 years in the beachside community. 

Some residents suspect the chemicals in the groundwater are behind the cancer cluster in the area.

"We feel like it's important enough to let our citizens know about the water here," said Satellite Beach Mayor Frank Catino.

Earlier test results released this summer detected the fluorinated chemicals known as Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) in the wells at three Satellite Beach test sites.

The EPA found those chemicals may cause cancer.

"This has to be everybody to look into it and say we have it or we don't have it," said Catino. "If we have it, how do you think we got it? What do we do now?"

Catino says the amount of PFOA and PFOS found in the original well tests was under the EPA health advisory level.

In addition to re-testing the original sites, the second round adds more irrigation wells to the list and screens for more than 100 potential pollutants in the groundwater. Council approved budgeting $15,000 for this second round of testing for contaminants. 

"We want to make sure that we do the testing to assure people that we are safe," said Catino, "and if we get some chemicals that are hazardous and fall over the guideline limits, that we know how to proceed."

Courtney Barker, Satellite Beach City Manager, said, “We told the community we would be doing this next round of testing for contaminants, and we would take our time doing that, and we had to do that in a systematic and more scientific way, and also solicit input from residents of what they wanted to see tested, so that is what we’ve done.”

Council member Mark Brimer was the only “no” vote on council, raising concerns about spending the money now.

“We’re doing the right thing, but we are way ahead of ourselves. We need to step back, let some other people take a look at this issue then get reengaged,” he said during the meeting Wednesday.

Some say the EPA health guidelines need to be lowered.

PFOA and PFOS have been found in firefighting foams that were used for decades at the nearby Patrick Air Force Base.

The Florida Department of Health is investigating the cancer cluster, along with Brevard County.

The new tests under consideration would also look for other contaminants, as well as herbicides.

Testing is scheduled to start November 2. Barker said it usually takes about a month to get results from the lab.

Reporter Jerry Hume contributed to this story.