Colonia High School A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. As a concerned uncle and community member, I pray we find nothing, Lupiano says. Earlier this year, 1989 Colonia High School graduate Al Lupiano developed a list of more than 120 people who were students, teachers or staff members at the school from the 1970s to 1990s. WOODBRIDGE - Work is underway to create a portal for people with ties to Colonia High School who have developed brain tumors to share information with the New . Robert Miller The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to. Image: Unsplash. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day - I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. "They are working with the Township to review the test findings and prepare a course of action if necessary.". It has been lightly edited for clarity. COLONIA, N.J. - Radiation tests are being done at Colonia High School in New Jersey after more than 100 people were diagnosed with rare brain tumors. "I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15," Lupiano said. By Sean Adams, WCBS Newsradio 880. 94 people from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey are part of a cancer cluster of still unknown origin. McCormac says last Saturday, environmentalists placed random canisters inside the school to collect air samples. A single New Jersey man has uncovered a medical mystery apparently linking 100 people diagnosed with rare cancers or tumors to a Woodbridge high school. The cause hasn't been discovered yet, but some researchers suspect . All rights reserved. For her part, Komorek said she took it upon herself to do the independent testing for my own peace of mind, to sleep at night, and for my girls to remain at the school., I was hoping it was going to come back negative, she added. Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. CHS is the one link of all three of them. At the time, the medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. By pairing specialists and experts in the field of cancer with robust resources, facilities, and technologies, Hackensack Meridian Cancer Care is committed to getting patients back to the life they love. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. She loves a good music pun and wakes up very very early. They are testing the grounds outside and inside of the high school inside. The sudden death of his sister led Lupiano on a research mission about the rare brain tumors. Dr. Joseph Massimino, superintendent of Woodbridge Township School District has commented that they are waiting for more details and formulating next steps, in coordination with New Jersey environmental agencies. His sister succumbed to brain cancer. 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. "When I started looking into it, I quickly amassed 15 of our classmates with these rare brain tumors," he told NewsNation. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, Lupiano said. And there are many different forms of these cancers. Photo credit Google Street View. Both sisters graduated from Colonia High School, just like Al Lupiano in 1989, his wife Michelle in 1991, and his sister, Angela Decillis in 1995. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. This is terrific news for current students of Colonia High School (CHS) and their parents who worried about their safety along with current staff members, Mayor John E. McCormac said. Pictured, a stock image of a brain scan. So, would you take us through what is known so far about this cluster? In a mysterious story, a man from New Jersey named Al Lupiano found out that 100 people with uncommon cancers were linked to Woodbridge Township School District, Colonia High School. Thats what makes the numbers staggering, says Lupiano. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Nsikan runs the health and science desk at WNYC/Gothamist. An investigation has been launched after more than 100 people who attended a high. Lupiano has spearheaded a public push for answers after he started a Facebook group focused on former Colonia students and the rare brain cancer, the outlet noted. Gothamist is a website about New York City news, arts, events and food, brought to you by New York Public Radio. The conversation is available below. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. I had stage 4 cancer. As per this resolution approved at their April 5 meeting, the Woodbridge town Council hired T & M Associates and Cabrera Services, Inc. to do the radon testing (officially called "environmental engineering services for radiological assessment") at the high school. ', Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. utah778/Getty Work began on . The probe was the result of concerns about a possible brain tumor cluster linked to graduates and staff from Colonia High, a school of about 1,300 students in Middlesex County. Part Time, Per diem position. Earlier this spring . 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. Unfortunately, hers was terminal, and she died in February. Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. But we'd love to be able to rule out the school.". What steps are investigators taking to try to figure this out? 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 . Nearly 100 people attending a single high school in New Jersey have developed rare forms of brain cancer. "I am beyond pleased to announce that after an extensive field investigation that included assessing the classrooms, school building materials, and the entire 28 acres of the Colonia High School campus, no radiological hazards were identified that warrant further investigation," he wrote in a letter to families. "It's not something done to us due to bad habits, said Lupiano. Lupiano, an environmental scientist and industrial engineer, believed it was a pattern. The testers are specifically testing for radon levels in the air after 1989 Colonia High School grad Al Lupiano proposed this theory that he found an unusually high number of brain. The results indicated PCBs at concentration of 50,500 mg/kg, exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulatory level of 50 mg/kg, according to the report. The couple's neurologist was baffled. Jason Wisinksi lost his wife Janice 10 years ago to an inoperable brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. Please consider subscribing to NJ.com. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! I made a promise to my sister while she was dying that if something did this to us, I will find out what did it, Lupiano says. 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. 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. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, said Lupiano. All rights reserved (About Us). Immediate action from our State and Federal agencies is warranted, Lupiano said. 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. 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. "I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15," said Lupiano. Al Lupiano has found 107 people with primary brain tumors who all attended or worked at Colonia High School. Concerns were raised by Al Lupiano, a 1989 graduate of Colonia High School, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor along with his wife Michele and sister Angela DeCillis, both of whom had. Superintendent Joseph Massiminio the district worked with representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection, the state Department of Health, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Disease Control, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to discuss the matter, and that national firms T&M Associates and Cabrera Services were tasked with collecting data and conducting the necessary tests. All three were diagnosed with a brain tumor. He made a public plea on Facebook to anyone from the school who was diagnosed with primary brain tumors. At the time of the CBS interview in late March, Lupiano claimed to have confirmed 65 cases of rare brain tumors, all affecting people who either attended or worked at Colonia High School. Luciano has reported his findings to Colonia High School. And today we now stand at 117 individuals with primary brain tumors, and another 70 with very rare cancers.". ", ALSO READ | Onlookers urged police to charge into TX school: 'Go in there! That is the question residents are hoping to answer in the Colonia section of Woodbridge. Officials are looking for potential radiation at the school. His wife was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, which is a benign brain tumor and is the exact same brain tumor that Al Lupiano himself was diagnosed with 22 years ago. On March 29, 2022, Lupiano wrote an article in a local newsletter, asking for help to identify people who developed the brain tumors, to collect data to plan further steps for answers to a probably cause. 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. Job in West Orange - Essex County - NJ New Jersey - USA , 07052. Janice's sister Chery Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. It will take about two weeks. 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). In 1999, when he was just 27, Al. A A. The school is expected to remain open during this time. 100 PEOPLE WITH RARE TUMORS WHO ATTENDED SAME NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL DEMAND ANSWERS The 110 people that Lupiano has counted on his list of former Colonia High School graduates have been. Asking them to be patient for several more weeks is unacceptable. Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 1999. "Woodbridge Township contacted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the CDC, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (which is part of CDC), and the state Department of Health last week, and we've begun initial discussions with them.". Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. WOODBRIDGE, NJ Air quality testing is being done at Colonia High School this week, while the Woodbridge school district is closed for spring break. The brain tumor cases, appearing over a thirty-year period, are a significant medical mystery that has caused alarm for experts. As the Senior Producer for Morning Edition on WNYC, Alec works hard to get listeners all the latest news and delightful stories from New York City, northern New Jersey and beyond. "In addition, DEP's further review does not indicate sources of environmental exposures of concern to public health. Lupiano was diagnosed with glioblastoma (brain cancer) when he was 27 years old, about 25 years ago. They were diagnosed on the same day last summer. Radiological assessments will be conducted throughout the schools 28-acre campus, as well as indoor radon testing, this coming Easter weekend, the New York Post reported. 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. More than 100 people who graduated from Colonia High School have developed brain cancer. Our journalism needs your support. $4 Million Settlement Mass Torts $203 Million Class Action Financial Services $75 Million Class Action Mass Torts $200 Million Class Action A New Jersey town is planning to conduct environmental testing at Colonia High School after a resident discovered dozens of people connected to the school had developed rare brain tumors. They are leaving radon canisters at the school for 14 days, which will test for elevated levels of radon. (Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media). Columns with an asterisk or 'N' indicate there was no data or it was suppressed to protect student privacy. Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist,. As of Thursday, Lupiano said he has confirmed 65 cases of people with rare brain tumors and they all are either Colonia High School graduates or had worked there, he says. He holds a doctorate in pathobiology from Columbia University and is an alum of the science communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. How many people do we mean here? Lupianoknew that something was very wrong here. The environmental testing is expected to last a month. He received his . As the school remains open during the investigation, some students are concerned. We contacted the author of the post, former student and former resident Al Lupiano, and offered to help, McCormac said. Ninety-four former staff members and students from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, have developed an "extremely" rare form of malignant brain tumor, leading local officials to approve an emergency probe of the school Tuesday. That is the conclusion federal, state, county and township officials concluded after weeks of radiological testing inside and outside of school grounds in April and May. (RELATED: Video Shows Man Repeatedly Running Over Woman With SUV After Minor Incident). State health officials are now conducting an investigation into the cluster of 117 people. While Lupianos wife Michele is still undergoing treatment, his sister Angela died in February, just months after her diagnosis. The testing actually started April 9, and testers have been seen walking around Colonia High School, taking air samples to test for radiation, said Woodbridge town spokesman John Hagerty. Exterior shots of Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Again too early to tell yet, I think, to draw any definitive conclusions.". He said he is specifically looking for anyone who graduated from or attend Colonia High School from approximately 1975 to 1995. They are also both graduates of Colonia High School. Lupiano grew up in Woodbridge Township and he now works as an environmental scientist; he no longer lives in Woodbridge. The governor wont be embracing the bill despised by landlords and supported by tenant advocates. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. In his first public comments on the matter, Murphy told reporters he is taking this issue "very seriously," but also cautioned: "I don't know that we know enough yet to be definitive in terms of causation," Murphy said, according to 101.5. This all began last year when Al Lupiano made a startling discovery. Whittington a board-certified MD in California claimed several of the brain tumors developed by ex-Colonia High staff and students are glioblastoma multiforme an aggressive cancer. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac immediately and responsibly got engaged. Alumni links 65 rare brain tumor cases to NJ high school, investigation launched. He said, What are the odds of this? It's exceeding one in a billion that three people this closely tied together would all have brain tumors. Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, Belvidere Jeep assembly plant shut down indefinitely, Chicago Weather: Cloudy and much cooler Thursday. Is it a cancer cluster or a coincidence? Al Lupiano revealed he had a brain tumor 20 years ago, before his wife had one and so did his sister - who died in February aged just 44. There's a lot of speculation running rampant about what could be causing this, but to date, there has been nothing found. Its not air. He added that the Environmental Protection Agency has gotten involved in the investigation. 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. Sign up for Patch emails: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com, this resolution approved at their April 5 meeting, Brain Tumor Link To Colonia High School 'Credible,' Town's Mayor Says. Lupiano, an environmental scientist and industrial engineer, picked up on a trend. The results will then be reviewed by federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, plus the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Health. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day, I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. What I find alarming is theres truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors and thats ionizing radiation. Unfortunately, it turned out to be stage 4 glioblastoma. After nearly 100 people who attended the same New Jersey high school developed rare brain tumors, an alumnus and cancer survivor is demanding answers. "What I find alarming is there's truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors and that's ionizing radiation, said Lupiano. Its not something done to us due to bad habits, Lupiano told CBS News. The environmental assessment study at Colonia High School was recently completed, in response to allegations that suggested the school had radiological hazards that contributed to diagnoses. 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. She also requested the district embark on additional environmental testing. That is what Al Lupiano, Colonia High School (CHS) Class of 1989, wants to find out after . NJ cluster of brain cancer prompts investigation, We rely on your support to make local news available to all, Astoria pool will be closed this summer for renovations: Parks, Gov. 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. The video has been viewed more than 3 million times.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. High school in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey are part of a cluster... 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