The City of Woodbridge has hired experts to conduct radiation tests inside school buildings and on school grounds, according to NJ Spotlight News. What I find alarming is theres truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors, and thats ionizing radiation, he declared. 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. The issue became national headline in the United States after CBS News aired a story on it. 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. "Today we are very happy to announce that our extensive testing for both radon and radiation, in the interior and exterior, of the school produced no evidence of any cancer-causing hazards that warrant further investigation," McCormac said. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. READ MORE: Former Woodbridge, N.J. resident says 65 people who either attended or worked at Colonia High School have had rare brain tumors. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano tells NBC4 New . While the family had hoped to move forward following the operation, tests . The announcement comes on the heels of the development that a New Jersey man who graduated from the high school that he believes is linked to a mysterious cluster of brain tumors dating back decades -- and to his own diagnosis -- says he's gotten a New York City-based foundation signed on to offer free brain scans to people in the community who may not otherwise have access. Market data provided by Factset. "They'll have the means to do air sampling, water sampling and soil sampling," Lupiano told New Jersey 101.5. In 1999, when he was just 27, Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a "very rare" and abnormally large brain tumor for someone his age called Acoustic Neuroma (AN). Colonia High School Officials conduct a radiological survey on the school's baseball field. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, "This is only the tip of the iceberg. Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. The Department of Health will work with the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry and will conduct a public health assessment and evaluate the potential for health effects. A consultant will be testing the grounds at Colonia High School, New Jersey, amid concerns that the school is linked to a high rate of rare brain cancers. "We absolutely have concerns, the Democrat told NJ.com. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. More than 120 people who attended Colonia High School in New Jersey have been diagnosed with brain tumors. But just because there is an investigation does not necessarily mean there's a cancer cluster, Platz told Live Science. The states Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette backed up the mayors declaration the school was safe. But how will officials figure out if a true cancer cluster exists or if the cases are simply a coincidence? "I hope the results come back with absolutely nothing," he said. 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. He just needs a place. According to the National Cancer Institute, "cases of cancer can appear to cluster even when there is no connection among them." The program will take real-time measurements of radiation inside and outside the building, the town said. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Head trauma could put people at higher risk of brain cancer, Actress beaten by stranger, diagnosed with brain tumor and run over by car, My wife thought she had baby brain it was deadly cancer, My face is melting off due to a rare disease, Chill Hip hop 37(932007) 212soundworks, American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. It is now one of the hottest topics to be discussed on TikTok. His sister Angela Decillis. We have no records 55 years ago.". COLONIA, New Jersey (WABC) -- Two environmentalists are using a GPS to test for radiation on the grounds of Colonia High School. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. It's due to concerns tied to graduates or staff members with brain tumors. Its not something in soil. 'I will not rest until I . The gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. 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. 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. Robert Miller The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. (Exposure to certain types of radiation can increase the risk of cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.) 94 people from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey are part of a cancer cluster of still unknown origin. Lupiano's sister, however, another Colonia alumnus, recently died from brain cancer -- and MyCentralJersey.com reports brother Al promised her before she died that he'd find out why the tumors were occurring in the specific community. "For the most part I'm pretty good today," Lupiano said. A A. LOS ANGELES (AP) More than a week after Tom Sizemore suffered a brain aneurysm, a representative says the actor's family is "now deciding end of life matters." "Today, doctors informed . Frequently, in hazmat, you never find it in the first shot," Lupiano said. According to Fox News, there have been instances of both malignant and benign brain tumors being discovered in former Colonia High School attendees. How will officials determine if a true cancer cluster exists? In 1999 when Lupiano was 27, he too was diagnosed with a large acoustic neuroma on the left side of his brain. 100 stories of shock and disbelief with the diagnosis. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Legal Statement. Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world. But he made a promise to his late sister that he would find out. More than 100 people who graduated from Colonia High School have developed brain cancer. #braincancer #glioblastoma #braintumor #radiation #medicalmystery #doctor. Lupiano launched the bid after his sister passed away from the disease and his wife too was diagnosed with the exact same form of aggressive tumour glioblastoma. Since last August, Lupiano has spent countless hours trying to find other people linked to CHS with primary brain cancers. ", Colonia High School entrance. Ultimately, if it isnt a radiation source that is causing these illnesses, Lupiano says other tests can be done to pinpoint a cause. In a post Saturday, Lupiano said a radiological team that was looking for radiation and radon concluded their search. Her work has appeared in Scientific American, Wired UK, Popular Science and Youth Today, among others. In a statement to CBS News, Lupiano said he is "anxiously awaiting the results of the two-week-long radiological survey which concluded this weekend" and he anticipates he will receive the results in weeks. The same day his sister was diagnosed, his wife, Michele, a 1991 Colonia High School graduate, was diagnosed with a large acoustic neuroma, a rare brain tumor which is life-threatening if left untreated. The community suspects a cancer cluster, and would like it investigated, and I think thats a very reasonable request. Donavyn Coffey is a Kentucky-based health and environment journalist reporting on healthcare, food systems and anything you can CRISPR. "We thank Mayor McCormac [sic] and the local residents for raising these concerns and we ask for patience as we pursue the science to try to identify answers," the statement reads. (Al Lupiano). Colonia High School in New Jersey has seen more than 100 students and staff diagnosed with cancer over the last 30 years. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). On Tuesday after a public push by Lupiano local officials approved an emergency probe of the school. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The viral TikTok video discussing the purported cancer cluster was posted Wednesday by popular personality Dr. Joe Whittington. "The high school was the first thing to be there, so there was probably nothing in the ground at that time," he said. Lupiano said his teamdealt withanti-terrorism work, radioactive materials, and chemical and biological agents. 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. State Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichillisaid during the press conference a review of the cancer registry by health officials determined the expected number of primary brain tumors for Colonia students from 1968 to 2021 were 98 to 105 and among staff for that same timeframe were 13 to 14. An investigation has . For the Lupianos, they believe the chances of all three of them having tumors on the left sides of their brains were too high to be a coincidence. "I will not rest until I have answers," the 50-year-old told NJ.com. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Normally speaking, you dont get radiation in a high school unless something is going on in that area that we dont know, Raval added, calling for an immediate investigation. Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. 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. She died on Feb. 17, 2022, at 44 years old. Radiation tests are being carried out at a New Jersey high school where over 100 former students and staff are reported to have developed brain tumors and cancerand the . An MRI revealed Michele had a 30-millimeter acoustic neuroma, another raretype of brain tumor that develops on the nerves leading to the inner ear. Many of the former staff and teachers included in the total lived outside Woodbridge Township making the high school, so far, the only clear link. This is terrific news for the current students of Colonia High School and their parents, who worried about their safety, along with current staff members, and is also great news for all former students who attended and staff who worked at Colonia High School.. Because I dont think its right to say theres no threat to teachers and students if you didnt take a single soil or groundwater sample.. The township and school district have had discussions and meetings with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the state Department of Health, the state Department of Environmental Protection and Rep. Frank Pallones office. Its not something done to us due to bad habits.. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Al Lupiano, a Colonia High School graduate is on a mission to answer that question after discovering more than 80 fe. He believes something at the high school in one of the more suburban and affluent sections of the township is responsible for dozens of brain cancer cases. In a joint statement to CBS News, the New Jersey Department of Health and the state's Department of Environmental Protection said the agencies "are aware of the concerns raised by local residents, particularly as they relate to Colonia High School, and are partnering with Mayor McCormac and Woodbridge Township to better understand the issue and determine whether any relevant environmental exposure concerns are present at the site.". (Gosselin Funeral Home) In August 2021, DeCillis received her diagnosis of Grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive, rare, and deadly form of brain cancer. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. It's the largest oil spill cleanup company in the United States. "It's too important. In April, Woodbridge approved environmental testing at the school, but those results won't be made available until the end of June. His wife, Michelle, who also attended Colonia high, got a benign diagnosis as well, though the two came 20 years apart. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormack told the outlet that his office initiated conversations with the Woodbridge Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Agency for Toxic Substance Disease Registry about opening investigations into potential radiation exposure stemming from the high school's campus. "I dont know that we know enough yet to be definitive in terms of causation, et cetera.". So far, more than 2,000 people have signed a Change.org petition demanding, in part, students return to remote learning. He says if there is something going on, he worries about all of the people that would be impacted. "There could be a real problem here, and our residents deserve to know if there are any dangers," Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said in a statement carried by the New York Post. DeCillis passed away at the age of 44 from a rare form of brain cancer. The plant received uranium, thorium and beryllium ores between the 1940s and 1967, which is the same year Colonia High School was built. We are looking at possible things that we can do between the town and school, and they said they will look at anything we come up with, McCormac said. For an interactive map version. He accused the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry of being unresponsive to his calls for a formal probe. Lupiano began counting how many people associated with the town were effected. Would find out but he made a promise to his late sister that he would find.... To graduates or staff members with brain tumors cluster even when there is something going on, he about. Has hired experts to conduct radiation tests inside School buildings and on grounds. Story on it 1999 when Lupiano was 27, he too was diagnosed with cancer over last. 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