The plant received uranium, thorium and beryllium ores between the 1940s and 1967, which is the same year Colonia High School was built. Colonia Park Mall in court over $200,000 in bills Lupiano's sister, also a graduate of the high school, died recently from brain cancer. The analysis can back with PCBs above federal and state standards as well as pesticides that were banned in 1988," she said. People move in and out of town. I dont believe so as we all came from different parts of the Township. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. 3/21 UPDATE: I am scheduled to present my data to local, County, and State officials. He was born in . Since discovering three individuals in my family were diagnosed with very rare brain tumors, and all about the same size and on the same side of our head, I needed to find a link. While there is no known direct correlation between this incident and the cluster of brain tumors that has emerged from former students and staff, it is worth noting the history of that area that could have potentially led to both incidents. Earlier:Some in Colonia not satisfied after no radiological hazards found at school. ", "They tend to leave stuff behind, and that stuff tends to migrate from one location to another. Lupiano, who is also an environmental scientist, and his wife Michelle-- both graduates of the high school -- were diagnosed with benign brain tumors 20 years apart. Three weeks ago, I made a promise to my beloved sister on her deathbed I will uncover the truth! "To me their health is the most important thing.". The site received uranium, thorium and beryllium ores from the 1940s until 1967, at which time the facility was decontaminated to the standards in effect at the time. State your name, what you were diagnosed with, when, and what year you graduated CHS or worked there. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. "Nothing indicates that the school building or property is unsafe," he added. Whatever the city decides to do, Komorek said she hopes it goes beyond the tests they already performed. Send to me ASAP by PM (FB Messenger)we would like to put this on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt TONIGHT! But Mr. Lupiano said he ultimately hopes one way or another to be assured that all is as it should be. 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. I am asking for your help! Further explanation of what occurred at that high school over these decades of people being in the building," Lupiano said. His most recent Facebook update, as of April 17, 2022, says that he has identified 102 cases. He concedes no soil or dust samples were collected when the township conducted its own tests, but adds that Komoreks findings need further validation. Updated Apr 17, 2022 at 4:10pm. Print |. All three had attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge, in central New Jersey, and soon enough, Mr. Lupiano began asking on Facebook and on a local news site if any other graduates had similar diagnoses. "Every inch of Colonia High School from buildings to fields is being tested for radiation to determine if there is a link between the school and the number of cancer cases . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. There could be a real problem here, and our residents deserve to know if there are any dangers, Woodbridges mayor, John McCormac, said in April. More say the information flow is sorely lacking. '", Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a "very rare" and abnormally large brain tumor in 1999 when he was 27 called Acoustic Neuroma. High School Lost My Transcript 16 /r/applyingtocollege, 2023-02-20, 17:42:41 Stage IV update 15 /r/pancreaticcancer . In the case of Colonia High School, many of these valid limitations apply. Tech & Science Science Health and Medicine Brain Cancer. MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Search warrants unsealed Tuesday revealed more about what police were looking for, and what . An alum of Colonia High School in Woodbridge is raising the alarm over a possible cancer cluster among the school's graduates. T+M Associates, an environmental engineering firm, was asked to investigate a link between the school and brain cancer last month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a true cancer cluster must be a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases of the same type of cancer or those proven to have the same cause, within a specific population over a set time. V Th Su High School. So that's why I focused on cancerous or malignant and benign because they're triggered by the same thing, and we have really solid statistics to say all. Before being devastated by a hurricane in 1960, Cliffwood Beach, NJ was a hot vacation spot that drew comparisons to Brooklyn's Coney Island. "From my perspective when we find this type of contamination on our client's property, we're not allowed to sit still and refuse to act. Why is this alarming? Al Lupiano, a 1989 graduate of the school, has identified 65 Colonia High graduates, including himself and two other members of his family, who have been diagnosed with an extremely rare brain cancer. Updated: Feb 28, 2023 / 03:42 PM EST. "They are all causing cancer.". 3/29 UPATE: The list has continued to grow, and now stands at 65 individuals. To report that your child will be absent or late, call the Attendance Hotline: (732) 726-7040 To report that your child will be absent or late, call the Attendance Hotline: (732) 726-7040 Instead, an amalgam of carcinogens, genetic predispositions, social factors, lifestyle choices, natural aging and the random chance of spontaneous mutation sets it off, bit by bit, year by year, even decade by decade. Al Lupiano, his wife and his sister all had brain tumors. Nearly 100 Former Students and Staff From Colonia High School Develop Brain Tumors Hng Vng High School. Edyta Komorek, an environmental scientist and mother of a Colonia High School rising junior and freshman, was not pacified by the results. It was an entry point for uranium ores that were "imported for use in the nations early atomic energy program, were assayed at the Middlesex Sampling Plant and then shipped to other sites for processing," according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York Division. Powered by. Anyone can read what you share. or redistributed. Even before Mr. Lupianos list had reached 100 people, it had drawn the attention of local and national news media and had catalyzed public officials to act. Earlier this year, officials claimed that penetrating radar tests on the grounds of Colonia High School concluded . My sister and siblings attended Lynn Crest, Colonia Middle, and Colonia High School. ", Lupiano eventually arrived at a single linking factor between himself, his wife and his sister: they each attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge in the 1990s. Middlesex County's Colonia High School, located in Woodbridge, has made national headlines in recent weeks after over 100 former students and facultywere found to have been diagnosed with rare brain tumors. And experts have been able to identify a clear cause in only a tiny percentage of those. The plant, which has since closed, is about a 30-minute drive from Colonia High School. Rich Strack, who taught English and philosophy at Colonia for about 30 years, likened the situation to a dark cloud hanging over the school. When childrens health and lives are at stake, we have a right to demand your full attention and transparency.". We understand that the state authorities will be forwarding this information to appropriate federal agencies," Massimino's letter states. Even more troubling? As previously stated, there is basically one medically proven cause of rare brain tumors like ours radiation. "If we can enrich science by showing that an unknown compound is in high concentration and link it to primary brain tumors, maybe we can protect others, remove it from our environment to make sure it never happens again," he said. So, if you wish to help, please help me get the word out. Something is wrong here, he said. Facebook Colonia High School. I discovered 15 people from our circle of friends and their family members and friends had been diagnosed with brain tumors! Im 99.99 percent convinced.. After Angela died in February, at the age of 44, Mr. Lupiano says, he started his outreach in earnest, fueled by a promise to his sister to seek an explanation. Colonia High School Brain Tumors: New Jersey Cancer Cluster Causes Concern, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Lupiano, an environmental scientist who tested ground samples for toxins over the course of his 33-year career, has suggested that the school's grounds could be contaminated, pointing to Middlesex, New Jersey, sampling plant as a potential linking factor behind the 100-plus tumors. Frequently, in hazmat, you never find it in the first shot," Lupiano said. A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. Phil Murphy told NJ.com the possible brain tumor cluster was disturbing but stressed it was too soon to make definitive conclusions about the cause. A part of the campus is named for Pat Barbato - a longtime football coach . "It's overwhelming. We need them to investigate the issue and if possible, deal with the cause. Al Lupiano, a Colonia High School graduate is on a mission to answer that question after discovering more than 80 fellow graduates from the Woodbridge Township school developed the same rare brain tumor and graduated between the years 1975 to 1995. According to the Associated Press, a simple classroomdemonstrationof a Geiger counter resulted in panic when the radiation detectorshowed troubling results when a loud clamor was heard over a rock. "Im not sure what they will propose, but I hope this is going to include comprehensive soil, ground, water (testing)," she said. My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day I talk to her all the time, Wisinski said. Last summer, Lupiano's wife and now-deceased sister were diagnosed with rare malignant brain tumors on the same day. Several of these people have already died, according to Colonia High School graduate Al Lupiano, who said he was diagnosed with a primary brain tumor in 1999 in a now-viral Facebook post. All three have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. While I dont know for sure if they are related, being graduates of the High School, living next to the HS, and/or having rare cancers is something I feel needs to be explored further. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Colonia High School in New Jersey has seen more than 100 students and staff diagnosed with cancer over the last 30 years. Colonia High School 180 East Street Colonia, NJ 07067 Phone: 732-499-6500 Fax: 732-574-2575. A Record of Decision (ROD) for Soils was signed September 2005. People who have been exposed to ionizing radiation have an increased risk of developing primary brain tumors, whether they are malignant or benign, according to the Mayo Clinic. Remedial Action in accordance with this ROD was completed in FY08. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. All the testing, both by Komorek and the district, came after 108 people from over a period of three decades ending in the early 2000s who attended the school were diagnosed with brain tumors. By the time you see a tumor in a mammogram, it may be that that tumor has been growing for six years, said Rachel Morello-Frosch, a professor of public health at the University of California, Berkeley. Is cancer spreading at a New Jersey high school? ( NewsNation) An investigation is underway at a New Jersey high school that could potentially be linked to what's known as a cancer cluster. We need an investigation! In 1999, I too was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor on my left side. Caitlyn Shelton. My wife and I have known each other since meeting in grade school (Lynn Crest). This is a high bar to clear. Would love your thoughts, please comment. All three of them have since come down with rare brain disorders. In 1998 the Corps of Engineers recycled and disposed of the stockpiled steel. According to the television station, the sisters graduated from Colonia High School. So she took matters into her own hands and found toxic chemicals linked to cancer as well as pesticides at the school. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. After the CBS Channel 2 News airing, the summarized radio broadcast on CBS 880, and the NJ 101.5 coverage, my phone has not stopped ringing. I'm doing this not only for my wife, my sister my nieces are currently in the school but this deserves further understanding. It doesnt just go away because the test says all clear.. Al Lupiano, a graduate of Colonia High School, tells Fox News Digital that since posting his theory about an apparent link between brain tumor diagnoses in 1990s and early 2000s graduates of Colonia High School including himself, his wife and his sister, who recently died of cancer on Facebook in March, he has gathered the names of at least 110 graduates with rare brain tumors. Michael J. Prongay AGE: 52 Colonia Michael J. Prongay passed away on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at his home in the Colonia section of Woodbridge Township. A cancer survivor is vowing to untangle the twisted mystery of why almost 100 people associated with a New Jersey high school have developed "extremely" rare malignant brain tumours. She also suggested air sampling be done with closed windows to make sure indoor air is not diluted. McCormac said the investigation found "no cause and effect relationship between those illnesses and the building or grounds at Colonia High School." Kate McGreevy, an epidemiologist from the New Jersey Department of . Its unclear whether any of those questions will ever be answered, and if they are, how residents would receive the responses. More like this: Online High School 12 /r . What happened in my community continually repeats itself throughout this entire country, year in and year out, that survivor, Trevor Schaefer, told lawmakers in 2011. V Trng Ton High School. Above, Jason Wisinski, with his daughter, Haylee, lost his wife and sister-in-law, both Colonia High alumnae, to primary brain tumors. Dose, too, is a major factor. Email tips toaudrey.conklin@fox.com or on Twitter at @audpants. The natural world can also pose a threat via volcanic ash or toxin-spewing fungi. Jason Wisinski, who lost his wife and sister-in-law, both Colonia High alumnae, to . A A. During my research, I uncovered a shocking number of our Woodbridge Township friends and family have also been diagnosed with primary brain tumors. And the soil was right below where the caulking is.". "We appreciate the NJDOH, NJDEP, ATSDR, and CDC assistance to the Woodbridge Townships environmental investigation that is currently ongoing, but strongly believe that this is not enough," the petition says in seeking the involvement of more state and federal agencies. The brain tumor cases, appearing over a thirty-year period, are a significant medical mystery that has caused alarm for experts. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection building. Any opinions expressed are his own. "[W]e have really solid data on primary brain tumors because of what we learned after World War Two, what we learned after Chernobyl," Lupiano explained. The incident rate for GBM is approximately 30 out of 1,000,000 people. A nationwide constellation of state cancer databases was put in place in 1992, but these cancer registries often fail to account for changes in residency. The clients have to pay for the remediation. Is the exposure ongoing? New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection building. 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. Brian Thompson reports. If you are or know of a friend, family member, or teacher that was diagnosed with a PRIMARY brain tumor, please contact me. Sadly, several have already died. Of special note: many are former CHS teachers and staff members who didnt live in Colonia, they just worked in the school. "The Departments stand ready to assist Woodbridge in reviewing any environmental data it collects to determine appropriate next steps. Middlesex Sampling Plant to Colonia High School in New Jersey. Cancer does not awaken all at once. As first reported on New Jersey 101.5, Al Lupiano, a former Colonia High School student, was the one responsiblefor linking the people together. For those who dont know me, my name is Al Lupiano and I graduated CHS class of 89. Assuming we follow the same statistical analysis as stated previously, over a 20-year period from 1975 1995, I estimate approximately 5,000 individuals have passed thru the hallowed halls of CHS. Taking the next steps to begin the investigation. "It is not enough to address parents of operating school with suspected cancer cluster through written statements given to media outlets," the petition said. Keeping my fingers crossed!! Every inch of Colonia High School, part of the Woodbridge Township School District, from buildings to fields, is being tested for radiation to determine if there is a link between the school and the number of cancer cases diagnosed amongst former students and staff. "If we saw anything that said the school or the grounds were not safe, we would do something instantly. In its first update to the guidelines since 2013 (which are expected to be finalized this year) the agency acknowledges that barriers to discovering and declaring true clusters remain. according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York Division. 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Have 10 gift articles to give each month our circle of friends and their family members and had! Me get the word out occurred at that High School is causing Concern York Times Opinion section on Facebook Twitter. Demand your full attention and transparency. `` `` they tend to leave stuff behind, and stands. I 'm doing this not only for my wife was awesome, and now stands at individuals... Or delayed by at least 15 minutes I dont believe so as we all came from parts... Get the word out in reviewing any environmental data it collects to determine next! Where the caulking is. `` reviewing any environmental data it collects to determine appropriate next steps continued to,! Are, how residents would receive the responses occurred at that High School 180 East Street Colonia, they worked! Have 10 gift articles to give each month and friends had been diagnosed cancer. Three have been able to identify a clear cause in only a tiny percentage of those made a promise my... 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