After the testing ends, Lupiano said he and his supporters will be looking for a commitment by federal authorities for a conclusive investigation into whether something in the schools environment caused the brain tumors. It's due to concerns tied to graduates or staff members with brain tumors. A copy of Lupianos list, with the names and phone numbers of victims redacted, includes some who, like Lupiano himself, graduated decades ago. The environmental engineering firm T+M Associates was. Among the others diagnosed with brain cancer was Lupianos younger sister, who passed away from the disease in February at the age of 44. 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. Last year, his wife who also attended Colonia was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. "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. Further explanation of what occurred at that high school over these decades of people being in the building, Lupiano told Fox News Digital. "It seems like in a little over a 20-year period to have 65 people on a list is somewhat alarming, it's quite alarming," said the mayor, who lives blocks away from Colonia High School, but added the link only appears to pertain to people who attended or worked at the high school. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. "It was clearly alarming enough that it merited further attention and I just helped him get that attention. Starting this weekend, various radiological assessments will be conducted across the schools 28-acre campus, including the testing of indoor air samples for radon. Very few achieve the label, but one of them is Toms River, where the rate of childhood cancers surged in the 1990s after the towns drinking water was contaminated with toxic chemicals from two waste dumps. "I don't know what the cause is," Lupiano said. Thats 100 people with their life forever changed. His wife, Michelle, who also attended Colonia high, got a benign diagnosis as well, though the two came 20 years apart. 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. 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. In August 2021, DeCillis received her diagnosis of Grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive, rare, and deadly form of brain cancer. Middlesex Sampling Plant to Colonia High School in New Jersey. "We're all concerned, and we all want to get to the bottom of this. And in March 2022, a few weeks after his sister's death due to her malignant tumor, Lupiano posted his findings to Facebook in search of more patients. NJ high school linked to mystery cancer cases. "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 graduated from the Middlesex County school in 1989. Michele M. Vercoski, a partner of McCune Law Group, is investigating the potential link between the rare brain tumor and many former Colonia High School students out of the MLG's office in Newark, New Jersey. It's the largest oil spill cleanup company in the United States. Mitesh Kapadia moved right next to Colonia High just a few years ago. 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. According to the Mayo Clinic, an Acoustic Neuroma is a slow-growing tumor that is found on the primary nerve that . McCormac said he was very concerned to learn of the possible link. Last year, his sister who also went to the school found out she had a primary brain tumor, which turned out to be stage 4 glioblastoma, he told CBS New York. 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. 'It can't be a coincidence': Colonia High School community probes mysterious cancer cases, Piscataway man convicted of exploiting daughters college peers after moving into dorm, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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 . An environmental assessment began last month to test the school grounds, which turned up no findings of radiological contaminants, according to NJ.com, a New Jersey news site. Know What It Is, Nagaland Minister Pokes Fun At G20 Flower Pots Theft Accused, This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. Lupiano also spoke with CBS News on Thursday, saying he now believes ionizing radiation must be responsible for the health issues. But he made a promise to his late sister that he would find out. DeCillis earned her doctorate of nursing practice from Rutgers Universityin 2015. But public health experts are cautioning against deeming the tumor cases a "cancer cluster" just yet. Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. There has been plenty of inventions and history made in New Jersey. But just because there is an investigation does not necessarily mean there's a cancer cluster, Platz told Live Science. All are awaiting results from the radiation testing at the school before deciding how to get involved and proceed with the investigation. Donavyn was a Fulbright Fellow to Denmark where she studiedmolecular nutrition and food policy. Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. We're just doing it," said Mayor John E. McCormac. Last summer, Lupiano's wife and now-deceased sister were diagnosed with rare brain tumors on the same day. Its not something done to us due to bad habits.. Woodbridge officials are now trying to determine an underlying cause for the disease. He just needs a place. He said the site was vacant land until the school was built in 1967,so he believes there is little chance anything was in the ground before then, but if there is anything on site, it could have come from fill during the construction phase. 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. 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. 2021 DEADLIEST YEAR IN US HISTORY DUE TO COVID-19, DRUG OVERDOSES. 100 stories of shock and disbelief with the diagnosis. 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. His condition was rare, but he was successfully treated. "To say he was concerned when he discovered all three of us grew up in the same neighborhood is an understatement. LaTourette said during the press conference every possible link to cancer was tested. Its not contaminated water. After seeing a social media post from Lupiano earlier this month, concerned residents reached out to Mayor John McCormac. Dating back decades, newly detailed reports of more than 100 cases of brain tumors among former students and staff at Colonia High School in Woodbridge have raised obvious concerns. I've tried to give back over the last 20 years.". Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. "They'll have the means to do air sampling, water sampling and soil sampling," Lupiano told New Jersey 101.5. The work will be done in cooperation with Woodbridge School District. 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. Here's the latest for Wednesday April 6th: More sanctions against Russia expected; Zelenskyy warns that Russian troops are regrouping; Second Sacramento suspect under arrest; Severe storms from Texas to South Carolina. Donavyn Coffey is a Kentucky-based health and environment journalist reporting on healthcare, food systems and anything you can CRISPR. Dozens of former teachers and students have . 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. 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. The states Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette backed up the mayors declaration the school was safe. The township announced results of an investigation. Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world. Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a "very rare" and abnormally large brain tumor in 1999 when he was 27 called Acoustic Neuroma. Al Lupiano is among the 94 former staff and students from Colonia High School in the Woodbridge Township School District who have been stricken by the devastating diagnoses in recent years. You can also see how much the average bill changed from 2020. The department declined to comment for this story. His wife Michelle graduated in 1991. / CBS News. 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. Lupiano was diagnosed with a brain tumor back in the late 1990s, at the age of 27. 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. Market data provided by Factset. Im doing this not only for my wife, my sister my nieces are currently in the school but this deserves further understanding. That's what makes the numbers staggering," says Lupiano. 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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. 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. Brain cancer is rare, being detected in about one in 15,000 . 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Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. 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. I'm still helping him get more attention.". But to date we dont have any environmental factors that are known to cause brain tumors.. NBCLX storyteller Peter Hull walks you through the research. There's no proof yet that anything at CHS is the cause. . And all three were diagnosed with rare forms of brain cancers or tumors on the left side of their brains. Parent Edyta Komorek said she and other parents are thinking about transferring their kids to another district. Al Lupiano, 50, began investigating his alma matter of Colonia High School in Woodbridge, N.J. after his sister died of glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive and malignant brain tumor. Immediately I knew exactly what I was looking at. First published on April 25, 2022 / 10:26 AM. 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. In the United States, the rate of new cases of brain cancer or other nervous system cancer is 6.3 cases per 100,000 people per year, according to the National Institutes of Health. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. We've received your submission. "The only thing that could have happened, potentially, was fill that was brought in during construction. ", In an earlier update, Lupiano said many of those who reached out to him about their brain tumor or cancer cases "are former CHS teachers and staff members who didnt live in Colonia, they just worked in the school. 6 foods making your hay fever worse, according to a dietit King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage and give to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: 'Serious public health alert', NY teacher forced 5th-grade girl to use male pronouns causing suicidal thoughts: suit, Woke Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses re-election bid as city battles crime epidemic, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell Spare released, Jordyn Woods supports Selena Gomez amid singers feud with Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, RHONJ recap: Jennifer Aydin mocks Rachel Fudas terrible nose job, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. 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. During a press conference, local and state officials said a probe into Colonia High School, located in Woodbridge, found there was no cause and effect relationship between those illnesses and the building and grounds at Colonia High School.. Colonia Mayor John McCormac announced Thursday afternoon the results of the findings of the Environmental Assessment Study that was conducted to investigate if Colonia High School buildings and grounds. His wife and sister both got it. 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. Over 122 people connected to Colonia High School were found to have brain tumors. "The high school was the first thing to be there, so there was probably nothing in the ground at that time," he said. 4/24 UPDATE: The radiological team charged with looking for both radiation and radon has concluded. WOODBRIDGE The township has approved an emergency contract of $221,350 for an engineering firm to conduct radiological assessments at Colonia High School, following a 1989 graduate's research indicating a possible link between the school and brain tumor cases among former students and staff. They have a lot more resources at their disposal. According to agency estimates, about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Public health experts will look at the rate of brain cancer cases and investigate potential causes. Any finding that an outbreak of cancer in a specific location warrants the label cluster would rely on the elimination of possible causes that include the age of patients, the type of cancer, and how the number of cases compares with the incidence of the disease in the general population, they said. ", Colonia High School entrance. Lupiano and McCormac have spoken to officials with the state Department of Health and thefederalAgency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. "We absolutely have concerns, the Democrat told NJ.com. (Al Lupiano), "[A]s of midnight Sunday 4/10, I recorded the 100th case of someone having a primary brain tumor," Luapiano said in an update on his Faceboook post. PROMISING CANCER VACCINE IN THE WORKS UTILIZING SIMILAR MRNA TECHNOLOGY THAT COMBATS COVID: DUKE RESEARCHERS. 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. 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