In May, the district and state announced an environmental assessment of all 28 acres in and around Colonia found no traces of radiological contaminants and the school was deemed safe for students and staff. Brain cancer is relatively rare but very dangerous. "And if we do find something, we're going to deal with the consequences.". The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. ", "We are taking this incredibly seriously," Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac told Patch earlier this April, saying that he finds Lupiano's theory "quite credible and legitimate. "Given the ongoing environmental investigation and testing, it is premature to comment on any link and/or causation of cancer diagnosis that may or may not be related to Colonia High School," said Woodbridge town spokesman Hagerty. The investigation started earlier this year after a stunning number of cancer cases in people who had a connection to the school. All three family members attended Colonia High, the NY Post noted. He says that the evidence that Lupiano has collected is a cause for concern, which is why the city will pay for emergency testing at the school this weekend. Earlier this year, Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist and Colonia High School graduate, discovered more than 115 people who spent time at the school had a rare brain tumor. The pool is getting a new liner, gutter and deck, along with new filtration systems. In a Facebook post, Lupiano said the battle over whats affecting hundreds of CHS alumni, teachers and staff is not over with the help of renowned doctors and scientists., He called the data presented at the press conference flawed.. There's a vast array of treatments, but again, we're dealing with so many different types of primary brain tumors here that they're all treated very differently. The couple's neurologist was baffled. When a former student at Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, realized that he, his wife and his sister all had brain tumors, he wondered if something about their high. Lupiano says that most of the people on his list were at the high school prior to 1997. Today, he still suffers lingering effects. An investigation has been launched after more than 100 people who attended a high. Some are incredibly aggressive forms of cancer that need very aggressive forms of treatment. They were diagnosed on the same day last summer. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Advertisement. The municipal council in Woodbridge, which oversees Colonia High School, approved an emergency contract earlier this month to start radiological testing of the grounds at the high school. Lupianoknew that something was very wrong here. Lupiano has been able to confirm that 94 former students and staff of Colonia High School had developed brain tumors, as per coverage in New York Post. "There's lots and lots of people calling me, saying, 'Look, I didn't go to the high school, but I live a mile away, and we call our block cancer alley,'" he told Fox News. Since . No one knows exactly what it is. Al Lupiano has found 107 people with primary brain tumors who all attended or worked at Colonia High School. He is keeping a list. "It's not something done to us due to bad habits, said Lupiano. Colonia High School was reportedly the common denominator among those suffering from the tumors Credit: CBS NEW YORK Al Lupiano, speaking to CBS2, said the rare brain tumors were discovered in people who attended Colonia High School. Lupiano said the rarity of the brain tumors raised concerns of the neurologist they shared since they all grew up in relatively the same neighborhood. Over 122 people connected to Colonia High School were found to have brain tumors. Komorek said the results of her testing indicate state environmental officials should conduct further tests of the air, soil and building compounds at Colonia. Would they just end it at that?. We will continue to keep you informed as we develop a plan of action based on the advice of our experts.. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. . The lists, which are sorted by county and include a separate list for charter schools, also include a second graduation rate, which excludes students whose special education IEPs allow them to qualify for diplomas despite not meeting typical coursework and attendance requirements. Obviously, everyone's praying and hoping for the best," said Colonia High School junior Julia Pagnozzi. "100as of midnight Sunday 4/10, I recorded the 100th case of someone having a primary brain tumor," Lupiano wrote on Facebook last Monday, April 11. The reports he got back were startling, and he saw patterns emerging. And today we now stand at 117 individuals with primary brain tumors, and another 70 with very rare cancers.". Woodbridge Township is paying T&M Associates $221,350 to do the radon testing. Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media. Stanmyre joined WNYC's Morning Edition host Michael Hill to explain the latest on these cases and what the investigation could entail. Advocates for an official investigation into fears of a "cancer cluster" at the Middlesex County high school say there are parallels to the notorious water system contamination in the Ocean County town that was blamed for more than 130 cases of childhood cancer in the 1990s. Mayor McCormac says the Environmental Protection Agency is now involved. Qualifications: Current and valid New Jersey Registered Nurse license is required. He emphasized that there's no need for residents in the community to go get emergency cancer imaging scans immediately. It's not contaminated water. Exterior shots of Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Is it a cancer cluster or just a coincidence? Earlier this year, Colonia graduate Al Lupiano, also an environmental scientist, discovered more than 100 teachers and alums of the school who reported having brain tumors, drawing international attention to the community and sparking state and local investigations. It's just that rare. The sample was collected using a laboratory-prepared hexane wipe and placed in a pre-cleaned, laboratory-provided jar, with a screw-on lid. Lupiano's quest for information took him to Facebook last month, and that list of people who went to or worked at Colonia High School - and have a primary brain tumor - is now closing in on 100 cases. Mar 30, 2022 The Wanted's Tom Parker Dies at 33 After Brain Tumor Battle Al Lupiano, a graduate of the high school, believes there's a link between Colonia High School and brain. They all attended or worked at Colonia High School most of them during the years of 1972 to 2000. She also cautioned that additional toxins could be present at the school because she described her initial testing as very limited, meaning it did not include taking air samples or probing deep into the soil or groundwater. As a scientist, I want to find answers. What I find alarming is theres truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors and thats ionizing radiation. Lupiano said he started searching for instances of Colonia High graduates having brain tumors and was stunned to discover 15 people in total, with two newly discovered cases pending further . All Rights Reserved. A comprehensive investigation of soil, indoor air, and groundwater shall be conducted to determine if children and staff are exposed to unhealthy levels of toxins other than already identified PCBs and pesticides., In his letter to the parents in the school district, Massimino wrote: Nothing in the newly reported information has any bearing on the prior studies which determined last spring that no radiation was found inside or outside of Colonia High School. Lupiano, an environmental scientist and industrial engineer, picked up on a trend. Environmental scientists are investigating reports of increased instances of brain tumors at Colonia High School in New Jersey. The onset of brain tumors in more than one hundred people who attended or worked at Colonia High School in New Jersey has continued to baffle experts. "My wife fought like crazy. Through his posts, Lupiano, CHS Class of 1989, wanted to find out if CHS is the cause of primary brain tumors that have affected more than 100 former students and staff. Komorek presented her findings Monday to Woodbridge superintendent Joseph Massimino, Colonia principal Kenneth Pace and Woodbridge Education Association president Brian Geoffroy. Environmental engineers have been testing for radiation at Colonia High School in New Jersey after reports that over 100 former students and staff members were diagnosed with brain tumors. Alumni links 65 rare brain tumor cases to NJ high school, investigation launched. "In conclusion, the results of the radiological investigation at the high school and grounds are within the normal variation of background radiation levels in New Jersey and are therefore not indicative of concern over radiological exposure to individuals at the site," state DEP Commisioner Shawn LaTourette wrote in a letter to the township. They said they took your temperature. His wife Michelle graduated in 1991. The Anti-Defamation League said the phrase at the center of the question was popularized as a trolling campaign by members of 4chan a notorious anonymous message board and was adopted by . But even more rare was the fact that his wife and sister later found out that they had similar medical conditions. Woodbridge Township has contracted environmental engineering firm T&M Associates to carry out radiation tests at Colonia High School to investigate a possible link between the school and the reported brain tumors, according to New York news outlet WABC. Three weeks later, Komorek collected a caulk sample from a northern exterior wall of the school and sent it to another state-certified lab in Fairfield. 100 former NJ high school students . All rights reserved. Our journalism needs your support. Matthew Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, found no traces of radiological contaminants. How many people do we mean here? Part Time, Per diem position. "That started setting off bells and whistles in my head.". Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). That's a huge number for such a small region. A few weeks ago, we very suddenly and tragically lost my 44-year-old sister Angela (CHS-95) to a very rare and highly aggressive malignant glioma brain tumor (Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)) discovered on her left side, he wrote in the newsletter. McCormac previously said he also expects the ground and soil around Colonia High School will be tested, along with the air inside the high school building. Both parents of children in school and current teachers and staff deserve answers. This is the preliminary step that they're taking to see if they can find anything. "I had told my sister from the very beginning that there was too much of a coincidence that me, my wife and her all have the same tumor," Lupiano said. This is also great news for all former students who attended and staff to work at CHS since it opened back in 1968., McCormac said they sympathize with anyone who has experienced brain tumors and brain cancers, especially those who lost loved ones to the terrible disease, but there is no cause-and-effect relation between those illnesses and the buildings or grounds at CHS.. Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. Environmental engineering firm T+M Associates has been contracted by the township to test for radiation on the grounds of the high school, which was built in 1967. National Cancer Institutes list of 27 common afflictions. By Sean Adams, WCBS Newsradio 880. His sister succumbed to brain cancer. Federal agencies are also assisting in the investigation. So, would you take us through what is known so far about this cluster? Kamal added that there needs to be a full investigation to understand if these cancers are linked, and if there's a specific cause. Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano is among 94 former students and staff from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, who have been diagnosed with rare brain tumors. Its not air. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Radiologic Technologist Per Diem. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, (RELATED: Video Shows Man Repeatedly Running Over Woman With SUV After Minor Incident). The New Jersey state Department of Health. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Last year, Lupianos wife and sister also developed brain tumors, as first reported byCBS New York. Additionally, T&M Associates has begun conducting historic site research to obtain any and all necessary records related to the construction of Colonia High School when it was built in 1967, through to the present. The mother of two Colonia High students who believed not enough environmental testing was done in the aftermath of reports of a possible brain tumor cluster connected to the school told NJ Advance Media she has found evidence of highly toxic chemicals at Colonia through her own independent testing. Lupiano also says people who did not attend the school but live nearby have gotten in touch with him to express their concerns. It has been lightly edited for clarity. Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac told WABC that the situation was "alarming because there are just so many people with a tumormalignant or benign, and it's serious.". ", "Just the sheer numbers of cases he's found is staggering," McCormac continued. His wife. Please consider subscribing to NJ.com. Job specializations: Healthcare. A stock photo shows medical workers looking at a brain scan or brain scans. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, Lawrence Township League of Women Voters announces 2022 leadership award winners, No criminal charges for Hillsborough police officer in 2021 fatal shooting, Vigil marks one-year anniversary of Ukrainian War. Were all concerned, and we all want to get to the bottom of this. If you were affected or have a tumor or rare cancer, I need your assistance," his Facebook post read. I know so many people who have ailments and cancer specifically who lived near there. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, said Lupiano. Whittington believes that the Colonia High School students and staff have developed glioblastoma multiforme, a fast-growing and aggressive brain tumor that invades the nearby brain tissue. This is definitely not normal.. Colonia High School A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. Several types of primary brain tumors, including cancerous forms like glioblastoma and noncancerous yet debilitating masses such as acoustic neuromas, haemangioblastomas and meningiomas, have been diagnosed, according to the outlet. All Rights Reserved. Lupiano's sister passed away in February, 2022 at the young age of 44. I don't trust anyone who says that nuclear plant was safe. She made it five years.". A scientist and mother is demanding answers after tests she conducted found cancer-causing toxins and materials were present at the school where more than 100 former students have since been. Sneak Peek At Woodbridge Mayor's Mailer Urging 'Yes' Vote On March 14, Woodbridge Woman Writes Her 2nd Fiction Novel, Critically Praised, Perth Amboy Outerbridge Crossing Crash Blocks Lane Tuesday: DOT, NJ Camp Fairs at Menlo Park Mall Mar 4, 2023 - FREE to Attend (12-3PM), 2023 Spring Garden Tea Party Gift Auction, Raisin, The Tony-Winning Best Musical - Second Incredible Week, Johns Crazy Socks Enters the Wholesale Channel so Retail Stores Can Sell Our Socks, Protect Your Home from Ticks with Yard Guard from Viking Pest, The Doobie Brothers Play In New Brunswick July 8,9, Highest NJ Property Taxes: See Where Your Town Ranks On New List, Person Shot During Police Encounter At South Jersey Rest Stop: AG. Today we now stand at 117 individuals with primary brain tumor cases to NJ High were! Apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site year after a stunning number of cancer in... 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