colonia high school brain tumorscolonia high school brain tumors

So that has already begun. Colonia High School was reportedly the common denominator among those suffering from the tumors Credit: CBS NEW YORK Al Lupiano, speaking to CBS2, said the rare brain tumors were discovered in people who attended Colonia High School. State health officials are now conducting an investigation into the cluster of 117 people. Theyve placed canisters inside the school. This is definitely not normal.. Social media has played a big role in shining the light of truth on this situation. The mother, Edyta Komorek, who has worked as an environmental scientist since 2006, said she collected dust, window caulk and soil samples from Colonia that tested for excessive levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordane, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide all carcinogenic compounds that can lead to cancer and other diseases. All three were diagnosed with a brain tumor. There's a lot of speculation running rampant about what could be causing this, but to date, there has been nothing found. When it didnt happen, Komorek who earned a joint degree in environmental science from Rutgers and New Jersey Institute of Technology and specializes in air, ground water and soil contamination took matters into her own hands. 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. Colonia is not a mega high school. Woodbridge Township has contracted environmental engineering firm T&M Associates to carry out radiation tests at Colonia High School to investigate a possible link between the school and the reported brain tumors, according to New York news outlet WABC. Over 122 people connected to Colonia High School were found to have brain tumors. Our sister station WABC-TV has reached out to the EPA for comment. While Lupianos wife Michele is still undergoing treatment, his sister Angela died in February, just months after her diagnosis. Lupiano has been able to confirm that 94 former students and staff of Colonia High School had developed brain tumors, as per coverage in New York Post. (Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media). Job in West Orange - Essex County - NJ New Jersey - USA , 07052. Lupiano has confirmed that he will not stop until he finds out what has happened here over the years at Colonia High School. This all began last year when Al Lupiano made a startling discovery. WOODBRIDGE, NJ Air quality testing is being done at Colonia High School this week, while the Woodbridge school district is closed for spring break. Our journalism needs your support. Lupiano is still looking for any and all Colonia High School alumni to come forward. Since . Lupiano grew up in Woodbridge Township and he now works as an environmental scientist; he no longer lives in Woodbridge. Part Time, Per diem position. Dr. Joseph Massimino, superintendent of Woodbridge Township School District has commented that they are waiting for more details and formulating next steps, in coordination with New Jersey environmental agencies. Obviously, everyone's praying and hoping for the best," said Colonia High School junior Julia Pagnozzi. "My wife fought like crazy. 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. "In conclusion, the results of the radiological investigation at the high school and grounds are within the normal variation of background radiation levels in New Jersey and are therefore not indicative of concern over radiological exposure to individuals at the site," state DEP Commisioner Shawn LaTourette wrote in a letter to the township. "I need your help Facebook. The testing actually started April 9, and testers have been seen walking around Colonia High School, taking air samples to test for radiation, said Woodbridge town spokesman John Hagerty. Several types of primary brain tumors, including cancerous forms like glioblastoma and noncancerous yet debilitating masses such as acoustic neuromas, haemangioblastomas and meningiomas, have been diagnosed, according to the outlet. What I find alarming is theres truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors and thats ionizing radiation. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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 has kind of spearheaded all of this. I know so many people who have ailments and cancer specifically who lived near there. Al Lupiano revealed he had a brain tumor 20 years ago, before his wife had one and so did his sister - who died in February aged just 44. Robert Miller The investigation was jumpstarted after it was discovered more 122 people once connected to. 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. Colonia High School: Environmentalists determining possible link between New Jersey school and brain tumors - ABC7 Chicago tumor Former students wonder if their brain tumors are. 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 of brain tumors, cancers, and other central nervous disorders in former students and staff members. Angela has four daughters who have or will go to Colonia High School. A graduate as recent as 2014 was found to have a primary brain tumor. In May, the district and state announced an environmental assessment of all 28 acres in and around Colonia found no traces of radiological contaminants and the school was deemed safe for students and staff. An alumnus of Colonia High School in Woodbridege, N.J. is investigating his former high school, claiming he has counted 115 people who attended or worked there to have had a rare brain. In an acknowledgement of the significance of Komoreks findings, the district sent out a statement to parents and guardians Monday evening. Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac told WABC that the situation was "alarming because there are just so many people with a tumormalignant or benign, and it's serious.". An investigation into the possible link between Colonia High School and cancer found no radiological hazards that warranted further investigation. All Rights Reserved. "We're going to test and hope we find nothing," McCormac previously said. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. What steps are investigators taking to try to figure this out? His name is on it, along with his wife and late sister. 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. The environmental testing is expected to last a month. Lupianos wife was also diagnosed with a brain tumor, the NY Post reported. All rights reserved (About Us). "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day - I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. They said it was about a one in a billion odds. An alumnus of Colonia High School in Woodbridege, N.J. is investigating his former high school, claiming he has counted 115 people who attended or worked there to have had a rare brain tumor, according to CBS News. The pool is getting a new liner, gutter and deck, along with new filtration systems. Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. As a scientist, I want to find answers. I don't trust anyone who says that nuclear plant was safe. "My wife was awesome, and I think about her every day, I talk to her all the time," Wisinski said. Its not something in soil. Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. A total of 104 former students and faculty with brain tumors responded to a Facebook post. Jason Wisinksi lost his wife Janice 10 years ago to an inoperable brain tumor called Anaplastic Astrocytoma. United States Department of Environmental Protection. All three have been diagnosed with a brain tumor. The cause hasn't been discovered yet, but some researchers suspect . This is also great news for all former students who attended and staff to work at CHS since it opened back in 1968., McCormac said they sympathize with anyone who has experienced brain tumors and brain cancers, especially those who lost loved ones to the terrible disease, but there is no cause-and-effect relation between those illnesses and the buildings or grounds at CHS.. It motivated Lupiano to create a Facebook group to determine if there were more Colonia High School alumni had developed brain tumors or other conditions. Last year, his sister, also an alumna of Colonia High, was diagnosed with a primary brain tumor, a stage 4 glioblastoma, he told CBS New York. The sudden death of his sister led Lupiano on a research mission about the rare brain tumors. Gothamist is a website about New York City news, arts, events and food, brought to you by New York Public Radio. Donate today, Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations. In April, the township entered an emergency agreement with T&M Associates, of Middletown, for professional environmental engineering services for a radiological assessment of Colonia High in an amount not to exceed $221,350. Then making matters even worse, the same day that Michelle Lupiano (Al's wife) was diagnosed with her brain tumor, Al's sister Angela DeCillis was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media. The mother of two Colonia High students who believed not enough environmental testing was done in the aftermath of reports of a possible brain tumor cluster connected to the school told NJ Advance Media she has found evidence of highly toxic chemicals at Colonia through her own independent testing. I will uncover the truth," Lupiano said to NJ.com. Lupiano has confirmed that he will not stop until he finds out what has happened here over the years at Colonia High School. The ground and air testing will begin on Saturday. That is the question residents are hoping to answer in the Colonia section of Woodbridge. Dr. Gracelyn Santos | [email protected]. Superintendent Joseph Massiminio the district worked with representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection, the state Department of Health, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Disease Control, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry to discuss the matter, and that national firms T&M Associates and Cabrera Services were tasked with collecting data and conducting the necessary tests. On March 29, 2022, Lupiano wrote an article in a local newsletter, asking for help to identify people who developed the brain tumors, to collect data to plan further steps for answers to a probably cause. ', Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. Just simple math in my head having a husband and wife with this tumor, which arent related and then to have my sister with a blastoma, I knew something was wrong, Lupiano says. 3 min read. Would they just end it at that?. WOODBRIDGE - Work is underway to create a portal for people with ties to Colonia High School who have developed brain tumors to share information with the New . Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano is among 94 former students and staff from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, who have been diagnosed with rare brain tumors. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, (RELATED: Video Shows Man Repeatedly Running Over Woman With SUV After Minor Incident). The municipal council in Woodbridge, which oversees Colonia High School, approved an emergency contract earlier this month to start radiological testing of the grounds at the high school. Lupiano says that most of the people on his list were at the high school prior to 1997. "It's certainly concerning because the rate of primary brain tumors is certainly higher than what we would expect in the general population," said Dr. Arif Kamal, Chief Patient Officer at the American Cancer Society. Friday, April 22, 2022. 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. The school was built in 1967 and currently serves roughly 1,300 students, the NY Post noted. Qualifications: Current and valid New Jersey Registered Nurse license is required. The incident rate for GBM is approximately 30 out of 1,000,000 people. As a concerned uncle and community member, I pray we find nothing, Lupiano says. I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15, he told CBS News York of the list, which now totals 115 people who had either malignant or benign tumors. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano tells NBC4 New . So, would you take us through what is known so far about this cluster? "The EPA and CDC are not testing at Colonia High School," said Hagerty. She also requested the district embark on additional environmental testing. "My wife fought like crazy. The 50-year-old claims the diseases could be traced. Lupiano was diagnosed with glioblastoma (brain cancer) when he was 27 years old, about 25 years ago. All rights reserved. Janice's sister Chery Black also died from brain cancer in 2015. The investigation started earlier this year after a stunning number of cancer cases in people who had a connection to the school. "They are working with the Township to review the test findings and prepare a course of action if necessary.". The reports have been brought to the attention of local officials who are now looking into them. On Feb. 17, Angela died from Glioblastoma Multiforme or GBM. Today, he still suffers lingering effects. But we'd love to be able to rule out the school.". He shared a 2020 Emmy for the PBS NewsHour series Stopping a Killer Pandemic and in 2019 received a George FosterPeabodyAwardfor the PBS NewsHour series The Plastic Problem. Nsikan has also worked for NPR, Science News Magazine, Science Magazine, KUSP Central Coast Public Radio, the Santa Cruz Sentinel and as a writer at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University. Early testing at the Woodbridge school by a consultant for the . It's not contaminated water. We contacted the author of the post, former student and former resident Al Lupiano, and offered to help, McCormac said. 94 people from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey are part of a cancer cluster of still unknown origin. CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student. WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. The mother of two Colonia High students who believed not enough environmental testing was done in the aftermath of reports of a possible brain tumor cluster connected to the school told NJ Advance . This all came to fruition in August of last year, and it just startled Lupiano. These tumors are even more rare occurring in 10 out of 1,000,000 individuals.. As the Senior Producer for Morning Edition on WNYC, Alec works hard to get listeners all the latest news and delightful stories from New York City, northern New Jersey and beyond. A New Jersey town is planning to conduct environmental testing at Colonia High School after a resident discovered dozens of people connected to the school had developed rare brain tumors. Some of these are non-cancerous, yet very debilitating forms of brain tumor. She loves a good music pun and wakes up very very early. Earlier this spring . Columns with an asterisk or 'N' indicate there was no data or it was suppressed to protect student privacy. 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