His sister died from it in February. 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.. In less than six weeks, Lupiano says, he has gathered the names of 94 people connected with the school who have developed brain tumors. Over 100 former students and staff from a New Jersey high school have been diagnosed with brain tumors. 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. He has continued to update followers on social media and on Thursday, said the list stood at 115 people who had either malignant or benign tumors. Now, an investigation is underway to determine if the school Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey is linked with a cancer cluster. Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. (Al Lupiano). Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. "For the most part I'm pretty good today," Lupiano said. 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.. Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world. But Lupiano has so far came across 102 people who passed through the school between 1975 and 2000 have all suffered from the same type of brain cancer. 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. Outdoors, radon disperses rapidly and, generally, is not a health issue. / CBS News. 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. 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. You can reach him at richard.rickman@townsquaremedia.com. 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. 2022 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This is only one of many, many tests that can be performed. "We continue receiving lip service, that we're here to help, but when we look around, they are nowhere to be found.". McCormac and Lupiano are waiting to hear back from the EPA. He went on to recover from the disease. Colonia High School Officials conduct a radiological survey on the school's baseball field. "This approach of calculating the expected number was done to provide context to . Schools Brain Tumor Link To Colonia High School 'Credible,' Town's Mayor Says A scientist's theory that a contaminant at the Woodbridge school is linked to 65 rare brain tumors is being taken . 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. Even though the cluster cases ended almost two decades ago, Lupiano appears as determined as ever to uncover the cause -- and he understands that parents who send their kids to school there now may have some concerns despite what officials tell them. It may be that once someone is diagnosed with cancer, they are more likely to take note of other cancer diagnoses or more likely to have conversations about cancer and realize their connections to other cancer patients, Platz said. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. If it's an ongoing issue, we may have to go through this all over again in 10 to 20 years. 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.. Brain tumor concerns prompt petition for remote learning at Colonia HS, graduates or staff members with brain tumors, Former Woodbridge, N.J. resident says 65 people who either attended or worked at Colonia High School have had rare brain tumors. I still dont know what Im going to do with my kids, Komorek told NJ.com. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. In a post Saturday, Lupiano said a radiological team that was looking for radiation and radon concluded their search. Reports claim that more than 60 former students and staff of Colonia High School have been diagnosed with a rare brain tumor called . Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). There is one well documented cause of brain tumors radiation exposure," he continued. The four-year high school has more than 1,300 students. NBCLX storyteller Peter Hull walks you through the research. "Her four children are potentially being exposed to the same thing that killed their mother. All are awaiting results from the radiation testing at the school before deciding how to get involved and proceed with the investigation. "It was clearly alarming enough that it merited further attention and I just helped him get that attention. The number of reported victims has been growing since Al Lupiano, a former student in the 1980s and a cancer victim himself, appealed for names in a Facebook post on March 7. ", NEWS: Piscataway man convicted of exploiting daughters college peers after moving into dorm. Updated on: May 4, 2022 / 11:30 PM More than 120 people who attended Colonia High School in New Jersey have been diagnosed with brain tumors. She died on Feb. 17, 2022, at 44 years old. 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. "I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15," he told CBS News York. The school has stayed open because there's no evidenced or discernible threat at this point, parents have said district officials told them, citing reports from local, state and federal investigators. Many more came forward after the posting, and by Thursday, the number had grown to 103, Lupiano told NJ Spotlight News. One former student at Colonia High School who developed a 'rare' brain tumor over 20 years ago and survived having cancer is looking to uncover the cause. Lupiano said his teamdealt withanti-terrorism work, radioactive materials, and chemical and biological agents. 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. The township announced results of an investigation. "With that in mind, and after many weeks of work, I was able to negotiate an agreement with BTF to provide this service completely FREE of charge.". Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a "very rare" and abnormally large brain tumor in 1999 when he was 27 called Acoustic Neuroma. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! But some parents didnt seem convinced, according to NJ.com. 100 stories of shock and disbelief with the diagnosis. Phil Murphy, whose administration has also been pushed to get more involved, recently described the tumor cluster as disturbing but echoed Woodbridge Township officials in stressing it was too soon to make definitive conclusions about the cause. "This is only the tip of the iceberg. (Google Maps). In 1999, at age 27, he was diagnosed with a large, benign brain tumor called an acoustic neuroma. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (Gosselin Funeral Home) In August 2021, DeCillis received . She died on Feb. 17, 2022, at 44 years old. Colonia High School is now the subject of radiation detecting. Parents like Dawn Genoni are willing to wait for that critical update. Platz expects that public health officials will look for specific overlaps in timing and tumor type. 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. Woodbridge officials are now trying to determine an underlying cause for the disease. His wife graduated in 1991. 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. They were very appreciative that we reached out to them but they were not interested in getting involved, and they kept trying to pass it off, and saying they will have to do research and get back to you, he said, referring to the New Jersey agency. Like 6 Comments |. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. For now, radiation levels in and around the school are being monitored in a two-week test that began on April 9 by a private contractor hired by the municipality. According to Fox News, there have been instances of both malignant and benign brain tumors being discovered in former Colonia High School attendees. ", Rick Rickman is the news assistant at New Jersey 101.5. Asking them to be patient for several more weeks is unacceptable. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. . To his knowledge, there was nothing remotely dangerous at the site. They have a lot more resources at their disposal. Colonia graduate Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist, was the first to sound the alarm about the potential cluster. Since . Out of roughly 10,000 people, having more than five dozen cases of brain tumors and cancers is far above the average. Among the others diagnosed with brain cancer was Lupianos younger sister, who passed away from the disease in February at the age of 44. In 1999, when he was just 27, Al Lupiano. In the 1980's, 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," the USACE New York Division's website states. "When I looked at the email and I saw the data I just dropped. Immediate action from our State and Federal agencies is warranted," Lupiano said. 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. Notably, brain cancer is rarer than other cancers. "We got the state and federal agencies involved, and we're starting some testing of the grounds and the air this weekend," McCormac said. Nearly 100 people attending a single high school in New Jersey have developed rare forms of brain cancer. Theres lots and lots of people calling me, saying, Look, I didnt go to the high school, but I live a mile away, and we call our block cancer alley,' said Lupiano. While the exact number of former faculty and staff diagnosed with glioblastoma is not precisely known, the cancer is exceedingly rare. That's when Lupiano started looking into the connection. That's what makes the numbers staggering," says Lupiano. No one knows why. But just because there is an investigation does not necessarily mean there's a cancer cluster, Platz told Live Science. Audrey Conklin is a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. On April 10, Mr. Lupiano's list of former students and staff members with primary brain tumors hit 100 names. Market data provided by Factset. The school was built back in 1967 on acres of empty land, with McCormac telling the news network he is stumped as to what could be causing the cancers. This is definitely not normal," the mayor further said in the statement. Dangerous drunk driving in South Brunswick, NJ cops nearly hit, Perth Amboy, NJ super rebukes teachers union for urging student walkout, Student walkout, protest planned after Perth Amboy NJ fifth-grader stabbed, Driver flees on foot after crash kills East Windsor, NJ mom, NJ man giving massages groped women at Plainsboro gym, cops say, Perth Amboy after school stabbing leaves 11-year-old hurt, child in custody, As NJ councilwoman is laid to rest, many questions about her execution-style slaying, New Brunswick, NJ burglar repeatedly confronted by residents, Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and EEO Report. 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. Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. A majority of former students of Colonia High School developed glioblastoma, a rare brain tumour. Why is the cancer that killed John McCain so deadly? I dont think this is the end of the story. It is now one of the hottest topics to be discussed on TikTok. "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. "To say he was concerned when he discovered all three of us grew up in the same neighborhood is an understatement. "Al has presented enough evidence that warrants further attention, but we have to rely on the experts to draw their conclusions.". Earlier this year, 1989 Colonia High School graduate Al Lupiano developed a list of more than 120 people who were students, teachers or staff members at the school from the 1970s to 1990s. What It Said, "Playing For Country": Gavaskar Blasts Gill For Calling Physio Mid-Over, Inside "World's Most Ultra-Luxury Resort", At $100,000 A Night, "I'm Not Their Target, You": Manish Sisodia's Resignation Letter, Video: Delhi Building's Dramatic Collapse After Fire, "Will Continue To Impose Sanctions On Russia": US Treasury Secretary, Chicago's 1st Openly Gay, Black Woman Mayor Loses Re-Election, Will Blow Up Mukesh Ambani, Amitabh Bachchan Bungalows, Caller To Cops, Think Tank CPR's Foreign Funding Licence Halted: "Will Explore Recourse", F1 Legend Jenson Button Breaks Guinness World Record. A A. Meanwhile, the TikTok video sparked panic and a range of conspiracy-theory style comments, with people claiming mold, toxic waste, asbestos and nearby cellphone towers could all be causing the cluster. 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, Largest asteroid ever to hit Earth was twice as big as the rock that killed off the dinosaurs, Giant ancient fish that likely preyed on humans' ancestors unearthed in South Africa, 3,400 years ago, 'brain surgery' left man with square hole in his skull, ancient bones suggest, In rare case, mother delivers two sets of identical twins, back to back, 450-mile-wide solid metal ball forms Earth's innermost core, earthquake waves reveal, Rare black hole 1 billion times the mass of the sun could upend our understanding of galaxy formation, COVID-19 linked to 40% increase in autoimmune disease risk in huge study, See photos of stunningly preserved 52-foot-long Book of the Dead papyrus from ancient Egypt, The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe, Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5', Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. 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