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. Over 1,300 cases have been reported of people getting sick after eating the Lucky Charms cereal. They were diagnosed on the same day last summer. A video posted on TikTok video by Dr. Joe Whittington, a board-certified doctor in California gave this issue much needed public attention. Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. Lupiano grew up in Woodbridge Township and he now works as an environmental scientist; he no longer lives in Woodbridge. 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. Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. The same day my sister was diagnosed (August 2021), I received the devastating news my wife Michele (nee Zawada) also has a very large (3.0 cm), very rare brain tumor called an Acoustic Neuroma (aka Vestibular Schwannoma) on her left side. 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. 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. She made it five years," said Jason Wisinski. 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. 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). All the affected attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge, dating back decades. Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2023. One former student, Al Lupiano, 50, was diagnosed with brain tumors in the 1990s but subsequently recovered, according to NJ.com. She also requested the district embark on additional environmental testing. How many people do we mean here? Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 1999. Woodbridge will not get preliminary test results until after this Saturday, April 23, said Hagerty. "We're going to test and hope we find nothing," McCormac previously said. 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. Accordingly, no further testing or remediation is required or recommended at this time. Komorek said the results of her testing indicate state environmental officials should conduct further tests of the air, soil and building compounds at Colonia. katherine noelle wyman; cape breton post obituaries 2022. location symbol text in word; list of female jockeys australia; mike conley house columbus ohio address In presenting her findings, Komorek urged the district to share her findings with the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The reports he got back were startling, and he saw patterns emerging. But we'd love to be able to rule out the school.". BSN or must obtain within 3 years. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. ", "Just the sheer numbers of cases he's found is staggering," McCormac continued. 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. How did this incident come to light in the first place? McCormac, along with schools Superintendent Joseph Massimino; Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and Judith Persichilli, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, announced the results of the radiation testing during a press conference at CHS on May 26. Komorek, Lupiano and several other parents criticized the assessment which did not include taking soil or water samples for not being thorough enough to put their minds at ease, despite assurances from state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. 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. And today we now stand at 117 individuals with primary brain tumors, and another 70 with very rare cancers.". CHS is the one link of all three of them. Lupiano's sister passed away in February, 2022 at the young age of 44. In an acknowledgement of the significance of Komoreks findings, the district sent out a statement to parents and guardians Monday evening. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. "And if we do find something, we're going to deal with the consequences.". 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. Both had graduated from Colonia High School, the news outlet reported. We contacted the author of the post, former student and former resident Al Lupiano, and offered to help, McCormac said. It's just that rare. Lupiano has confirmed that he will not stop until he finds out what has happened here over the years at Colonia High School. A A. He received his . I will not rest until I have answers. Unfortunately, that didnt happen.. Were all concerned, and we all want to get to the bottom of this. There's a lot of speculation running rampant about what could be causing this, but to date, there has been nothing found. My MIL died of lung cancer. "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. 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. Some are incredibly aggressive forms of cancer that need very aggressive forms of treatment. Earlier this spring . 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. Exterior shots of Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ on Thursday, April 7, 2022. . He is presently working with local officials to address the situation. Lupiano started researching. Its not something in soil. An investigation has been launched after more than 100 people who attended a high. Woodbridge Township is paying T&M Associates $221,350 to do the radon testing. Massimino sent the same statement to NJ Advance Media Monday. "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. 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 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. If you were affected or have a tumor or rare cancer, I need your assistance," his Facebook post read. 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 Mayor John McCormac immediately and responsibly got engaged. 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. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). Then making matters even worse, the same day that Michelle Lupiano (Al's wife) was diagnosed with her brain tumor, Al's sister Angela DeCillis was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. 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. Mystery as 100 people. 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 cancers and brain tumors, and said they could be linked to the high school. Please consider subscribing to NJ.com. 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. They are testing the grounds outside and inside of the high school inside. 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. Most of them during the years of 1972 to 2000, said Matthew Stanmyre with NJ Advance Media, who broke the news. 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. An alumnus of Colonia High School in Woodbridege, N.J. is investigating his former high school, claiming he has counted 115 people who attended or worked there to have had a rare brain tumor, according to CBS News. The testing was prompted after township officials learned of various social media posts related to several instances of brain tumors and brain cancer among students and faculty of CHS from . Columns with an asterisk or 'N' indicate there was no data or it was suppressed to protect student privacy. 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. There could be a real problem here, and our residents deserve to know if there are any dangers, Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said, according to the outlet. Officials are looking for potential radiation at the school. Thanks to social media, Lupiano found a total of 104 former students and faculty with brain tumors - about half are cancerous. Janice's sister Chery Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. She said she collected a dust sample from the top of the stall in a womens bathroom inside Colonia on Aug. 30, then sent it to a state-certified laboratory in Mountainside for testing. 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. 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. "It's certainly concerning because the rate of primary brain tumors is certainly higher than what we would expect in the general population," said Dr. Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, said Lupiano. Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist,. So, would . ', * 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. It should also be noted that not all the reports of primary brain tumors are cancerous. The sample was collected using a laboratory-prepared hexane wipe and placed in a pre-cleaned, laboratory-provided jar, with a screw-on lid. Its not contaminated water. Lupianoknew that something was very wrong here. A man investigating his former high school in New Jersey says he has counted 115 people who attended or worked there have had a rare brain tumor. (RELATED: Video Shows Man Repeatedly Running Over Woman With SUV After Minor Incident). All rights reserved (About Us). The conversation is available below. $4 Million Settlement Mass Torts $203 Million Class Action Financial Services $75 Million Class Action Mass Torts $200 Million Class Action Google Maps. At the time, the medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. A Colonia High School alum said he found 107 people with brain tumors who went to or worked at the school. The environmental testing is expected to last a month. 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. If you are an alumni or staff member of Colonia High School and have developed a brain tumor, contact MLG today! Part Time, Per diem position. We have to really take a look at it," said Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac. He added that the Environmental Protection Agency has gotten involved in the investigation. He said he is specifically looking for anyone who graduated from or attend Colonia High School from approximately 1975 to 1995. Others are benign and very slow-growing that are going to use a different kind of treatment altogether. Phil Murphy was asked by reporters for his thoughts on the possible brain cancer cluster at Colonia High. Again too early to tell yet, I think, to draw any definitive conclusions.". Jason Wisinksi lost his wife Janice 10 years ago to an inoperable brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. The investigation started earlier this year after a stunning number of cancer cases in people who had a connection to the school. 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. The reports have been brought to the attention of local officials who are now looking into them. His wife. Dr. Marc Siegel discusses brain tumors that emerged among former Colonia High School students on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight.' Local and federal environmental agencies say they are assisting. I just felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions regarding the school, Komorek told NJ Advance Media. And we all want to get to the attention of local officials who are now looking into them that very. This time the young age of 44 he got back were startling, and he now as... Indicate there was no data or it was suppressed to protect student privacy he saw patterns.... Associates $ 221,350 to do the radon testing this year after a stunning number of cases! 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