Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. The mother, Edyta Komorek, who has worked as an environmental scientist since 2006, said she collected dust, window caulk and soil samples from Colonia that tested for excessive levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordane, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide all carcinogenic compounds that can lead to cancer and other diseases. Primary brain tumors are tumors that originate in the brain, as opposed to secondary tumors which start somewhere else and then spread to the brain. "They are working with the Township to review the test findings and prepare a course of action if necessary.". What I find alarming is theres truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors and thats ionizing radiation. Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. "When I started looking into it, I quickly amassed 15 of our classmates with these rare brain tumors," he told NewsNation. Facebook Colonia High School A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. They learned of their tumors just eight days apart, while Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. A cluster of over 100 rare brain tumors in the past 30 years sparks a health inspection at Colonia High School in New Jersey. The environmental testing is expected to last a month. Over 1,300 cases have been reported of people getting sick after eating the Lucky Charms cereal. I don't trust anyone who says that nuclear plant was safe. 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. His sister Angela Decillis graduated in 1995. Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, Lupiano said. Lupiano has confirmed that he will not stop until he finds out what has happened here over the years at Colonia High School. His sister succumbed to brain cancer. Hochul deflects when asked about 'good cause' eviction bill, Judge: Former coach's discrimination lawsuit against New York Giants and NFL can proceed, Supreme Court justices pour water on NYs push to save mob-busting seaport watchdog, NJ Legislature OKs bill to make landlords, sellers warn residents about past floods. As of April 11, Lupiano wrote on this personal Facebook page that he now has tracked about 100 people with rare brain tumors and they all are either Colonia High School graduates or worked in the school building. "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. The pool is getting a new liner, gutter and deck, along with new filtration systems. 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. Angela has four daughters who have or will go to Colonia High School. Other toxic elements and compounds could exist at the schools property due to presence of suspected fill material, potential illegal disposal of chemicals or contaminant migration from surrounding properties, Komorek stated in her letter. Immediate action from our State and Federal agencies is warranted, Lupiano said. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. His wife Michelle graduated in 1991. The city of Woodbridge, NJ is conducting an investigation after more than 100 former students and staff at the local Colonia High School were found to have developed brain . While generally only life threatening if left untreated, radiation and surgical removal typically leaves individuals with numerous debilitations including chronic headaches, balance issues, fatigue, deafness, slurred speech, inability to blink, and facial paralysis (to name only a few), and that assumes it doesnt begin to regrow in the future. 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. I could go on. Theyre testing the air for radon. What steps are investigators taking to try to figure this out? Its not something in soil. 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. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac immediately and responsibly got engaged. Also, just on Monday Gov. All three were diagnosed with a brain tumor. 100 former students, staff of Colonia High School in New Jersey say they have rare brain tumors. McCormac says last Saturday, environmentalists placed random canisters inside the school to collect air samples. I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15, he told CBS News York of the list, which now totals 115 people who had either malignant or benign tumors. 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 Jersey Department of Health. 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. Lupiano is still looking for any and all Colonia High School alumni to come forward. Theres no telling if they're going to find answers here. WOODBRIDGE Levels of radiation in and around Colonia High School were found to be consistent with typical background levels of radiation found in New Jersey and no further testing is warranted. A high school in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, is being investigated by environmental experts after reports of more than 100 former students and staff being diagnosed with brain tumors. Columns with an asterisk or 'N' indicate there was no data or it was suppressed to protect student privacy. Some are incredibly aggressive forms of cancer that need very aggressive forms of treatment. 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 also attended the school. WWE Star Sonya Deville Arrested In Atlantic City On Gun Charge, Atlantic City Official & Council Candidate Facing Assault Charge, Former Press of Atlantic City Office Building To Get New Purpose, Atlantic City Area Residents Share Favorite Childhood Memories, Atlantic City, NJ Mayor Leading Free Resident Credit Repair Effort, Atlantic City, NJ Area Great Hurricane Of 1944 (AMAZING PHOTOS), Atlantic Citys Chris Ford Proved That Nice Guys Finish First, NJ Author Discusses What We Can Do to Address Bullying in Schools. ', * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts, AccuWeather: AM showers before a mild afternoon, Extra Time: Breaking down massive NYC, NYPD settlement, Teammate facing charges in crash that killed local UGA player. His name is on it, along with his wife and late sister. It's just that rare. "It is also important to note that the data compiled and posted to social media by Mr. Lupiano has yet to be evaluated and verified by any federal, state, county or municipal agency with competent jurisdiction to fully vet and verify his research. They were diagnosed on the same day last summer. Nsikan runs the health and science desk at WNYC/Gothamist. It should also be noted that not all the reports of primary brain tumors are cancerous. The school was built in 1967 and currently serves roughly 1,300 students, the NY Post noted. Advertisement. ', Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. Please consider subscribing to NJ.com. They all attended or worked at Colonia High School most of them during the years of 1972 to 2000. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, said Lupiano. Is it a cancer cluster or just a coincidence? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Before National Geographic, he worked for more than four years at PBS NewsHour, where he co-created anaward-winning video series named ScienceScope. 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. After nearly 100 people who attended the same New Jersey high school developed rare brain tumors, an alumnus and cancer survivor is demanding answers. "The EPA and CDC are not testing at Colonia High School," said Hagerty. Image: Unsplash. 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. One former student, Al Lupiano, 50, was diagnosed with brain tumors in the 1990s but subsequently recovered, according to NJ.com. Find NJ.com on Faceboo. 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. Massimino sent the same statement to NJ Advance Media Monday. Accordingly, no further testing or remediation is required or recommended at this time. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. This is definitely not normal.. The governor wont be embracing the bill despised by landlords and supported by tenant advocates. Fortunately one of the survivors is an environmentalscientist Al Lupiano, who is bringing attention to this and he is relentlessly looking for answers. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day, I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. That is the question residents are hoping to answer in the Colonia section of Woodbridge. 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. NEW JERSEY - A New Jersey man has uncovered a medical mystery apparently linking more than 100 people . I will not rest until I have answers. Lupiano was diagnosed with glioblastoma (brain cancer) when he was 27 years old, about 25 years ago. "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. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Colonia High School: Environmentalists determining possible link between New Jersey school and brain tumors - ABC7 Chicago tumor Former students wonder if their brain tumors are. Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 1999. He was diagnosed 20 years ago. "That's something that we take very seriously. A graduate as recent as 2014 was found to have a primary brain tumor. All rights reserved (About Us). Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. Al Lupiano, a graduate of the high school, believes there's a link between Colonia High School and brain tumors diagnosed in 108 people over a period of three decades, ending in the early 2000s. At the time, the medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. 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. Its not air. However, I still think we need to expedite the next phase of testing including water, soil, and air, to determine if more than one contaminant is present, he said. I know so many people who have ailments and cancer specifically who lived near there. He is presently working with local officials to address the situation. 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 . They are testing the grounds outside and inside of the high school inside. It will take about two weeks. 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