colonia high school brain tumors

Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. "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 New Jersey state Department of Health. Theyve placed canisters inside the school. As a scientist, I want to find answers. CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student. All three were diagnosed with a brain tumor. But even more rare was the fact that his wife and sister later found out that they had similar medical conditions. 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. A graduate as recent as 2014 was found to have a primary brain tumor. "I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15," said Lupiano. She made it five years," said Jason Wisinski. "It's alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor - malignant or benign, and it's serious. 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. Lupiano also says people who did not attend the school but live nearby have gotten in touch with him to express their concerns. Asking them to be patient for several more weeks is unacceptable. They are leaving radon canisters at the school for 14 days, which will test for elevated levels of radon. 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. Janice's sister Chery Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. "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. Jason Wisinski is another person affected by the spate of tumor cases. Such odds help to explain the public surprise after NJ Advance Media reported in early April that New Jerseyans living in the neighboring communities of Woodbridge and Colonia have developed various forms of brain tumors. Lupiano has confirmed that he will not stop until he finds out what has happened here over the years at Colonia High School. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "In addition, DEP's further review does not indicate sources of environmental exposures of concern to public health. 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). "And if we do find something, we're going to deal with the consequences.". 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. 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. State health officials are now conducting an investigation into the cluster of 117 people. 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 list quickly started multiplyingit all seemed to be linked back to the high school. Colonia High School graduateAl Lupiano talks to @KatyTurNBC about gathering names of over 80 individuals with rare brain tumors who attended the school. It should also be noted that not all the reports of primary brain tumors are cancerous. This all began last year when Al Lupiano made a startling discovery. And today we now stand at 117 individuals with primary brain tumors, and another 70 with very rare cancers.". The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. All the affected attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge, dating back decades. Lupiano says that most of the people on his list were at the high school prior to 1997. 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 . 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. They learned of their tumors eight days apart. 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 approximately 1975-99. He is presently working with local officials to address the situation. He started researching and made a public plea on Facebook to anyone from the school who was diagnosed with primary brain tumors. An investigation has been launched after more than 100 people who attended a high. The couple's neurologist was baffled. 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. Early testing at the Woodbridge school by a consultant for the . But according to the new results, the school currently poses no danger. 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. Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist,. "They are working with the Township to review the test findings and prepare a course of action if necessary.". Massimino said in the memo the district has contacted our environmental consultants, the Health Department of the Township of Woodbridge, and Township Officials to review the information. He also said the township shared the information with the State Department of Environmental Protection and the State Department of Health.. SOURCES:PEOPLE Magazine, CBS News New York, New York Post, NJ.com &Dr. Joe Whittington. Massimino sent the same statement to NJ Advance Media Monday. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day, I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. Courtesy Al Lupiano. The action (should) be undertaken immediately, due to high exceedances of the State and Federal regulatory standards for PCBs and pesticides, as well as the fact that PCBs and chlordane inhalation may be occurring by students and staff, Komorek stated in a letter to district officials. We contacted the author of the post, former student and former resident Al Lupiano, and offered to help, McCormac said. Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. ET: The spelling of Michele DeCillis has been corrected. 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. 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. 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. 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. Federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry. 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. After nearly 100 people who attended the same New Jersey high school developed rare brain tumors, an alumnus and cancer survivor is demanding answers. Unfortunately, it turned out to be stage 4 glioblastoma. 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. 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. Our journalism needs your support. The school is expected to remain open during this time. When he started digging and looking for a link, the common link was Colonia High 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. 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. Fortunately one of the survivors is an environmentalscientist Al Lupiano, who is bringing attention to this and he is relentlessly looking for answers. At the time, medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. Nsikan was previously at National Geographic where he worked as a science editor, overseeing its COVID-19 coverage in addition to other topics in science, health and technology. I will uncover the truth," Lupiano said to NJ.com. Columns with an asterisk or 'N' indicate there was no data or it was suppressed to protect student privacy. Lupiano was diagnosed with glioblastoma (brain cancer) when he was 27 years old, about 25 years ago. It's just that rare. $4 Million Settlement Mass Torts $203 Million Class Action Financial Services $75 Million Class Action Mass Torts $200 Million Class Action Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 1999. 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. He received his . Officials are looking for potential radiation at the school. The conversation is available below. ', * 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. Alumni links 65 rare brain tumor cases to NJ high school, investigation launched. Youre 98.6, youre fine, go home. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Last year, Lupianos wife and sister also developed brain tumors, as first reported byCBS New York. 2023 New York Public Radio. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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 . Hill: Brain tumors, relative to other types of cancer, are typically rare but can be very lethal. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Earlier this spring . 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. 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. "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. Township officials have posted the radiological reports on the township website at www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us. But we'd love to be able to rule out the school.". WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. 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. Lupianos wife was also diagnosed with a brain tumor, the NY Post reported. Friday, April 22, 2022. "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. Woodbridge will not get preliminary test results until after this Saturday, April 23, said Hagerty. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day - I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. In April, the township entered an emergency agreement with T&M Associates, of Middletown, for professional environmental engineering services for a radiological assessment of Colonia High in an amount not to exceed $221,350. He said in 40 years of neurology, he had never heard of a married couple that both had the same type of primary brain tumor. She loves a good music pun and wakes up very very early. We will continue to keep you informed as we develop a plan of action based on the advice of our experts.. Lupiano started researching. "What I find alarming is there's truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors and that's ionizing radiation, said Lupiano. While Lupianos wife Michele is still undergoing treatment, his sister Angela died in February, just months after her diagnosis. This is the preliminary step that they're taking to see if they can find anything. 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. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, said Lupiano. Jupiter and Venus appear to 'kiss' in the sky, Belvidere Jeep assembly plant shut down indefinitely, Chicago Weather: Cloudy and much cooler Thursday. 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. 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