Komorek said sources of PCB in the school could include window, door or sink caulk, floor tile glue, paint, fluorescent light ballasts, expansion joints, concrete and mortar, materials which can emit PCBs into indoor air. At least one epidemiologist I spoke to for this article told me that, just glancing at the numbers, he wasnt surprised that public officials have determined Colonia was not a true cluster. "Also, records later revealed that in 1948, some radioactively contaminated materials had been trucked from the plant to the Middlesex Municipal Landfill (MML), one-half mile away. Brian Thompson reports. "Most of them during the years of 1972 to 2000," said Matthew Stanmyre with NJ Advance Media, who broke the . Sadly, several have already died. For those who dont know me, my name is Al Lupiano and I graduated CHS class of 89. This is alarming if true! But, according to the Change.org petition launched Tuesday, complete results aren't even anticipated to be received until the end of May. I want someone else to go to.". Federal investigations take place: An investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency is being done to determine whether these 100-plus cases are a cancer cluster, or simply a coincidence, Fox News reported. 3/29 UPATE: The list has continued to grow, and now stands at 65 individuals. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. ", 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 Department of Health responded to the incident saying: We learned that one of the school's science teachers was demonstrating the use of a geiger counter (along with an accompanying sample of a low level radioactive source) as part of a science class lesson earlier that day. 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 . While I am thrilled to have the information coming in again, its also very troubling to see the numbers continue to grow. Some people will not be convinced.. Fox News reported that the plant received uranium, thorium and beryllium ores between the 1940s and 1967, which is the same year Colonia High School was built.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 1:07. ( NewsNation) An investigation is underway at a New Jersey high school that could potentially be linked to what's known as a cancer cluster. The study doesnt close anything. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection building. Colonia High School in New Jersey has seen more than 100 students and staff diagnosed with cancer over the last 30 years. The 110 people that Lupiano has counted on his list of former Colonia High School graduates have been diagnosed with cancerous or noncancerous primary brain tumors, meaning they originated in the brain. People struggle to recall their past daily lives which seat they sat in during high school chemistry or where their drinking water came from five years ago. So, if you wish to help, please help me get the word out. There are PCBs everywhere," he said. To report that your child will be absent or late, call the Attendance Hotline: (732) 726-7040 New Brunswick, N.J., April 27, 2021 - The New Jersey State Cancer Registry (NJSCR), under the direction of the State Department of Health in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, has been awarded a seven-year, $9,085,109 contract (75N91021D00009) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI . All of them graduated from Colonia High School, and they all have brain tumors, ABC7 reported. Jason Wisinski, who lost his wife and sister-in-law, both Colonia High alumnae, to primary malignant brain tumors at the age of 38, became one of many convinced that a cluster a hyperlocal blight of cancer could explain why so many young residents were succumbing to tumors. 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. The Middlesex Sampling Plant is located at 239 Mountain Avenue in Middlesex, New Jersey. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In 1997, the contaminated process building was demolished, and the steel stockpiled for recycling. 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. We did exactly what they wanted.. My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day I talk to her all the time, Wisinski said. The states environmental agency confirmed that the water company which does not use water from ground wells known to be pollution-prone serving the area had not had any violations for radiological contaminants since at least 2004. In 1980s, the contaminated residential properties were cleaned up, and the excavated soil was stored at the site in a specially constructed pile, known as the Vicinity Properties (VP) pile. He received his . More than 100 people who graduated from Colonia High School have developed brain cancer. "My thoughts are we should look into it, but it's what you would expect if you texted caulking from a building built in the 1960s. Something is wrong here, he said. Al Lupiano, a 1989 Colonia High School graduate, has developed a list of nearly 120 people who were students, teachers or staff members at the school who have developed brain tumors.Lupiano's sister, a Colonia High School grad, died with a malignant brain tumor in February and both he and his wife, who also is a Colonia High School grad, developed brain tumors. DeCillis passed away at the age of 44 from a rare form of brain cancer. "The agencies acknowledged their concerns regarding the potential cancer cluster, but are not conducting any testing aside from radiation and radon that the Township undertook, even though the school remains open. An alum of Colonia High School in Woodbridge is raising the alarm over a possible cancer cluster among the school's graduates. Something is wrong here, he said. A Record of Decision (ROD) for Soils was signed September 2005. Colonia High School . Angela died from it. V Trng Ton High School. (Google Maps). 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. Why would they include classes as recent as 2021 when we know many cancers take decades or longer to develop? Is cancer spreading at a New Jersey high school? Why? Im working on a big piece for Vice News which will air on their network in a week or two, and the Star Ledger is running a multipage story which should drop this Sunday. NJ high school linked to mystery cancer cases. ", "They tend to leave stuff behind, and that stuff tends to migrate from one location to another. Despite these odds, cancer cluster designations are considered crucial for both health officials interested in protecting public safety, and communities who fear theyve been exposed to cancer-causing agents. And thats not the case. r indicating there were no radiological hazards at Colonia High School, Some in Colonia not satisfied after no radiological hazards found at school, developed a list of more than 120 people who were students, teachers or staff members at the school from the 1970s to 1990s who have apparently developed brain tumors, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. She also suggested air sampling be done with closed windows to make sure indoor air is not diluted. 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. Because the school remains open, we demand greater urgency to find out if potentially harmful substances are harming our children and staff at Colonia High School.". Of the estimated 1,000 suspected cancer clusters reported to health departments each year, only a small fraction prove to be statistically significant cancer surges. 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. And the soil was right below where the caulking is.". In 1998 the Corps of Engineers recycled and disposed of the stockpiled steel. "It is not enough to address parents of operating school with suspected cancer cluster through written statements given to media outlets," the petition said. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Follow Joe on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 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. The soil sample also contained some pesticides. This is only one of many, many tests that can be performed. They have to stop its not that, not going to be that. It is possible that soil from the plant had been trucked to Colonia High School during its construction in 1967, according to the NJ Spotlight. All rights reserved. The investigation wasnt thorough enough, residents argue, and didnt involve water testing or analysis of the soil beyond radiological tests. Dr. Marc Siegel discusses brain tumors that emerged among former Colonia High School students on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight.'. Our meetings with the State and Feds. We are optimistic we will see some action soon. We all grew up in Woodbridge Township, but I lived in Iselin miles away from where she grew up in Colonia. I dont believe so as we all came from different parts of the Township. "I dont know that we know enough yet to be definitive in terms of causation, et cetera.". My list currently stands at 90 cases. However, overlooked during decontamination were traces of radioactive materials that had been carried offsite over the years by wind and rain to yards of neighboring homes. I hope the state will treat the school the same way because now we have kids who are susceptible receptors involved, and the teachers too," she said. It says. Hng Vng High School. He, his wife, and his sister all attended the school in the '90s. Edyta Komorek is a professional environmental scientist. At an educational board meeting in June, Mrs. Komorek laid out the possible leads she and others would like to see explored, like whether the schools 1960s-era building materials contain mercury or formaldehyde. And, YESI most definitely DO! Al Lupiano, a 1989 Colonia High School graduate, has developed a list of nearly 120 people who were students, teachers or staff members at the school who have developed brain tumors.Lupiano's . Ive done the leg work for them and gathered the data for the last 6 months. After some digging, a man who attended Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, discovered more than 100 former students and staff members had been diagnosed with the same sort . "One hundred out of 15,000 have brain cancer -- sure sounds like something we should be concerned about," Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac has said. But this isn't the first time the high school has had questions about the radiation levels in the area. This helps explain why cluster investigations so often fail to arrive at a satisfying conclusion. 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. "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 . "They are all causing cancer.". Lupiano started the quest for answers, using Facebook to compile similar cases of people who worked or were students at Colonia High School. She went inside the school in August to swipe dust samples from a bathroom, and returned a month later collecting samples outdoors, soil from the ground and caulk from a school window. EPA looking into cancer cluster tied to NJ high school. Alumni links 65 rare brain tumor cases to NJ high school, investigation launched. While generally only life threatening if left untreated, radiation and surgical removal typically leaves individuals with numerous debilitations including chronic headaches, balance issues, fatigue, deafness, slurred speech, inability to blink, and facial paralysis (to name only a few), and that assumes it doesnt begin to regrow in the future. . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 27 /r/newjersey, 2023-02-22, 22:36:15 Permalink. The schools social media accounts have been quiet about the brain tumors. The answer? "It's overwhelming. In a mysterious story, a man from New Jersey named Al Lupiano found out that 100 people with uncommon cancers were linked to Woodbridge Township School District, Colonia High School. (Al Lupiano), Lupaino says he has witnessed, in his career, "what happens when our government and our military [are] involved with leaving a location and not being very good environmental stewards. "[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. McCormac said he has seen Komorek's findings and consulted with the superintendent of schools. Humans are awash in potential cancer-causing agents, and it is practically impossible to determine the cause of a given case. Others told NJ.com they want a remote learning option until the investigation is complete. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. "We immediately contacted our environmental consultants, the health department of the Township of Woodbridge, and township officials to review the information. He concedes no soil or dust samples were collected when the township conducted its own tests, but adds that Komoreks findings need further validation. Potentially contaminated soil had been removed from the Middlesex Borough property over the years,with some of the soil used for construction right around the time of the construction of Colonia High School. 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 diagnosed with brain tumors. While I have spent countless hours gathering data, I simply havent had enough time to get others involved. It doesnt just go away because the test says all clear.. The township shared the information with the state Department of Environmental Protection and the state Department of Health. Earlier this year, officials claimed that penetrating radar tests on the grounds of Colonia High School concluded . Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. Above, Jason Wisinski, with his daughter, Haylee, lost his wife and sister-in-law, both Colonia High alumnae, to primary brain tumors. Secondary brain tumors, which originate elsewhere in the body and then spread to the brain, are more common. Two environmentalists are using a GPS to test for radiation at the high school, which is still open, the television station reported. "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," Massimino said in his letter, adding parents would be kept informed of a plan of action based on the advice of experts. Al Lupiano first sent public nearly two months ago about concerns of a cancer cluster related to Colonia High School. "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. Legal Statement. 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. Caitlyn Shelton. Middlesex Sampling Plant to Colonia High School in New Jersey. Over and over, the facts spoke for themselves all were alumni of CHS from approximately 1975 1995. As part of the demonstration, the teacher used theinstrument to test a collection of rocks stored in the closet of the science class when one of the rocks registered a reading of radioactivity. Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. Lng Th Vinh High School. Several people raised questions to me about the state health departments analysis. And suddenly, it hit me! "If we saw anything that said the school or the grounds were not safe, we would do something instantly. He was 52 years old. So it's not unheard of. Angela M. DeCillis, a Colonia High School graduate, Class of '95. Image: Unsplash. Thats 100 people with their life forever changed. A former Woodbridge man has identified 84 Colonia High School alumni and former staffers with rare brain tumors and wants health officials to investigate. This is an urgent call for actionI have two leads I am exploring on what may have caused this, but I need your help! HAZLE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) James Hudock, a former chemistry teacher who was promoted to vice principal at the Hazleton Area High School . "The medical journals are rich with data supporting ionizing radiation causes brain tumors. While the death rate from cancer is dropping, thanks to improving treatments and early detection, the total number of cancer cases in the United States is expected to rise by 50 percent compared with 2015 cases, in large part because of aging populations. Youre looking for footprints in the sand long after the tide has come and gone, said Dr. Clapp. April 15, 2022 1:00 PM ET. Colonia High School. To summarize, primary brain tumors of this type have an incidence rate of between 10-30 out of 1,000,000 individuals. Some workers, such as miners and firefighters, are exposed to known carcinogens during their careers. A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. An estimated 165,000 cattle and calves were placed on feed during January 2023, 14 percent above last month but down 17 percent from the January 2022 placements. 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