Lupiano told NJ Spotlight News that the school is located less than 12 miles from the Middlesex Sampling Plant a site that was used, under the direction of theManhattan Project, to crush, dry, store, package and ship uranium ore for the development of the atomic bomb. This is only one of many, many tests that can be performed. But brain . Shehad been dealing with hearing loss for several years. "While we have not yet determined if any contaminant is present, the only link up to this point is that everyone spent a significant amount of time at the school," Lupiano wrote in his Facebook post. .. Advertisement .. Over 100 Former Students, Staff Of New Jersey School Get Rare Cancer, Probe Launched, S Jaishankar's "Firm" Reply To UK Minister Who Raised BBC Tax Row: Sources, Nithyananda's 'Republic Of Kailasa' At UN Meet. Over 122 people connected to Colonia High School were found to have brain tumors. Lupiano said he has had meetings with county, state and federal agencies, which he said in a March 25 post "are going well.". Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Last month, McCormac and Superintendent of Schools Joseph Massimino became aware of health-related concerns reported on social media about a potential connection between Colonia High School and graduates who developed brain tumors. At the time of the CBS interview in late March, Lupiano claimed to have confirmed 65 cases of rare brain tumors, all affecting people who either attended or worked at Colonia High School. Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist, began. Lupiano also spoke with CBS News on Thursday, saying he now believes ionizing radiation must be responsible for the health issues. I'm still helping him get more attention.". More than 100 former Colonia High School students and staff over a 30-year period have been diagnosed with cancer and local parents say the information they're getting on the investigation. Until then, he knew of 15 former Colonia attendees who had been diagnosed with brain tumors. (Gosselin Funeral Home) In August 2021, DeCillis received . The township has filed an Open Public Records Act request with the state Department of Education to get files from 55 years ago when the school was built, the mayor said. And all three were diagnosed with rare forms of brain cancers or tumors on the left side of their brains. Donavyn Coffey is a Kentucky-based health and environment journalist reporting on healthcare, food systems and anything you can CRISPR. And that the children of this school, the faculty of this school and the parents and caregivers of these children and the people in and around this community they can have confidence, they can have confidence that this is a safe place.. Among the others diagnosed with brain cancer was Lupianos younger sister, who passed away from the disease in February at the age of 44. 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. If we dont find anything, we have to start looking at other potential candidates, whether its chemicals or something in the soil or air. Asking them to be patient for several more weeks is unacceptable. More than 100 former Colonia High School students and staff have been diagnosed with brain cancer over a 30-year period. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In August 2021, DeCillis received her diagnosis of Grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive, rare, and deadly form of brain cancer. Rather than looking at all central nervous system cancers over 30 years, investigators will likely look at rates of specific types of brain tumors and how long after high school these tumors developed, she said. Donavyn was a Fulbright Fellow to Denmark where she studiedmolecular nutrition and food policy. (Google Maps). A former Woodbridge man has identified 84 Colonia High School alumni and former staffers with rare brain tumors and wants health officials to investigate. But where? A majority of former students of Colonia High School developed glioblastoma, a rare brain tumour. His wife was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, and his sister was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. A A. Check the photos below. 2021 DEADLIEST YEAR IN US HISTORY DUE TO COVID-19, DRUG OVERDOSES. 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. McCormac said he was very concerned to learn of the possible link. Rob Laumbach, a Rutgers University professor of public health. Please enter valid email address to continue. The results from the environmental study that was conducted at a New Jersey high school campus enveloped in a brain tumor cluster mystery among graduates and workers at the school revealed no traces of radioactivity were found in the school. I still dont know what Im going to do with my kids, Komorek told NJ.com. Stanmyre: Right now, the number this week is up to 117 people who have been found to have a primary brain tumor of some sorts, according to data from Al Lupiano, who is the Colonia graduate who. And I know that wears on my brother-in-law, it wears on my parents. Just three of these clusters were linked to a possible exposure, and only one had a clear cause. More than 120 people who attended Colonia High School in New Jersey have been diagnosed with brain tumors. The Anti-Defamation League said the phrase at the center of the question was popularized as a trolling campaign by members of 4chan a notorious anonymous message board and was adopted by . We've received your submission. The states Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette backed up the mayors declaration the school was safe. A 2012 study in the journal Critical Reviews in Toxicology demonstrates how tricky it can be to confirm a cancer cluster. . 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. Because cancer clusters are often suspected in very small subpopulations like neighborhoods, apartment buildings or homes on the same side of the street they can be very difficult to establish, Platz said. I am being told Lupiano, who graduated from the school in 1989, himself was diagnosed 20 years ago and said he still suffers lingering issues, CBS New York reports. for 7-year-old's rare brain cancer. A majority of former students of Colonia High School developed glioblastoma, a rare brain tumour. Cancer diagnosis: Detection, testing and research, Parasite found in cat poop linked to higher brain cancer risk in humans, Once-dreaded poliovirus could treat brain cancer. In addition, T&M and Cabrera Services Inc, a radiological and environmental remediation company, will acquire real time radiation measurements from the interior and exterior of the building as part of an intensive survey of all 28 acres of the Colonia High School property. The brain tumor cases, appearing over a thirty-year period, are a significant medical mystery that has caused alarm for experts. Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The vast majority dont have a cause that explains the cluster, said Laumbach, who is leading a federal study into the health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), so-called forever chemicals, among 1,300 residents of Paulsboro in Gloucester County. Notably, brain cancer is rarer than other cancers. Middlesex Sampling Plant to Colonia High School in New Jersey. Lupiano also suggested a potential link between Colonia High School and a Middlesex, New Jersey, sampling plant in his interview with NJ Spotlight. Colonia High School A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. "They're the only ones with the authority to do something," Lupiano told CBS2's Kevin Rincon. 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. Thats 100 people with their life forever changed. As a Rutgers University graduate with a major in environmental sciences and a minor inindustrial hygiene safety engineering, he's made a career of cleaning up unsafe sites. Lupiano said his teamdealt withanti-terrorism work, radioactive materials, and chemical and biological agents. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Many more came forward after the posting, and by Thursday, the number had grown to 103, Lupiano told NJ Spotlight News. She worked for 16 years to help other rising nurses at Rutgers and RWJ Barnabas Health. The mayorsays only the experts are qualifiedto make an actionable connection between the cases and CHS. The vast majority of those who have developed brain tumors graduated between 1975 and 2000, although outliers have come as recently as a 2014 graduate, according to the Star-Ledger. "I never in my worst nightmare envisioned ever hitting this milestone. Ultimately, if it isnt a radiation source that is causing these illnesses, Lupiano says other tests can be done to pinpoint a cause. All these photos are from AP and Getty publications, meaning they were used in a magazine or newspaper. First published on April 25, 2022 / 10:26 AM. Two weeks from now, if we dont hear anything from the federal agencies, theres going to be a lot of yelling and screaming, and the parents are going to run out of patience, he said. He's looking for a place to host the screenings in early June and says he's had trouble working with local officials to find one. The environmental assessment study at Colonia High School was recently completed, in response to allegations that suggested the school had radiological hazards that contributed to diagnoses. "I'm not particularly concerned because it hasn't happened in quite some time. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. For a better-informed future. "It was clearly alarming enough that it merited further attention and I just helped him get that attention. She died on Feb. 17, 2022, at 44 years old. On the exact same day, Lupianos younger sister, Angela DeCillis, another alumna of Colonia, learned that she too had brain cancer. Laumbach argued that thousands of suspected cancer clusters throughout the country dont meet federal government standards for that designation even if they are investigated by public health experts. The gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Legal Statement. "It's too important. "I don't know what the cause is," Lupiano said. 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. 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. 94 people from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey are part of a cancer cluster of still unknown origin. 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. According to United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormick told CBS New York the school, which was built in 1967, was built on "virgin land" in the woods. "Both parents of children in school and current teachers and staff deserve answers. An investigation into a possible brain cancer cluster found no evidence a New Jersey school was the cause of tumors diagnosed in former students, officials declared Thursday. And over the last 18 years, Lupiano has worked forMarine Spill Response Corp. Calls are growing for state and federal authorities to look into why more than 100 people have been diagnosed with brain tumors since attending the school as students, faculty or staff in past decades. / CBS News. Al Lupiano first sent public nearly two months ago about concerns of a cancer cluster related to Colonia High School. McCormac, who lives three blocks from Colonia High School,is not yet convinced of a link. 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For people who graduated recently, the chances of having cancer now is much lower than those in their 70s and 80s, he said. The community suspects a cancer cluster, and would like it investigated, and I think thats a very reasonable request. If it's an ongoing issue, we may have to go through this all over again in 10 to 20 years. After his sister passed away, Lupiano wrote a lengthy Facebook post as well as an article in a local newspaper in March, asking for people in the area for help in reporting cases of brain tumors. The canisters do not poseany danger and do not emit any substance, and are routinely used in homes, businesses and schools to collect radon measurements, township officials said. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The program will take real-time measurements of radiation inside and outside the building, the town said. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano tells NBC4 New . 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 . His condition was rare, but he was successfully treated. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills at least 36, injures some 85, Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak, House select committee hearing paints China as a strategic antagonist, JetBlue flight forced to abort landing in close call at Logan Airport, Three officers shot, standoff follows in Kansas City, Mo., police say, Vanessa Bryant, family settles claims over Kobe crash site photos for $28.5M, Bald eagle couple lays new egg after losing eaglets two years in a row. Researchers at Rice University are hoping to begin human clinical trials on a cancer treatment that fights the disease right at the site of the tumor. 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. A look back: Al Lupiano was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a . Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a "very rare" and abnormally large brain tumor in 1999 when he was 27 called Acoustic Neuroma. / CBS New York. A part of the campus is named for Pat Barbato - a longtime football coach and athletic director. After nearly 100 people who attended the same New Jersey high school developed rare brain tumors, an alumnus and cancer survivor is demanding answers. It "was an entry point for African uranium ores known as pitchblende" 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. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, I make $80k selling nudes to pay for cancer treatment men love bald look, Jimmy Carters niece says former president still has some time in him, Experts say youve been storing potatoes wrong this whole time and shut down cancer rumors, Joe Exotics doctors suspect he has bladder cancer but hes refusing treatment: report. Lupiano says he has a solution, that he's negotiated with the Manhattan-based Brain Tumor Foundation to provide free MRI brain screenings to anyone who may want one. "They'll have the means to do air sampling, water sampling and soil sampling," Lupiano told New Jersey 101.5. NJ high school linked to mystery cancer cases. Heres how it works. In early March, Al Lupiano, 50, of Jamesburg, a 1989 Colonia High School graduate, posted on Facebook that his 44-year-old sister, Angela DeCillis, a 1995 Colonia High School graduate,died inFebruary from a rare,highly aggressive malignant glioma brain tumor on the left side of her brain, that had been diagnosed in August 2021. Lupiano is an environmental scientist who tested ground samples for toxins over the course of his career and suggested that the school's grounds could be contaminated, according to NJ Spotlight News. Dozens of former teachers and students have . 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 which spreads to brain tissue. "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. The investigation will consider very granular data on graduates, like their occupations, family history and other activities that could affect their exposures. Angela M. DeCillis, a Colonia High School graduate, Class of '95. READ MORE: Former Woodbridge, N.J. resident says 65 people who either attended or worked at Colonia High School have had rare brain tumors. Al Lupiano, his wife Michele, and his sister Angela DeCillis all graduated from CHS between 1989 and 1995. NBCLX storyteller Peter Hull walks you through the research. His wife was similarly diagnosed with an abnormally large AN tumor, and his sister was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), which has an incident rate of 30 out of every 1 million people, Lupiano explained in a Facebook post that he has been updating since March 7. 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. 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