What treatments are available for the afflicted? I could go on. Other toxic elements and compounds could exist at the schools property due to presence of suspected fill material, potential illegal disposal of chemicals or contaminant migration from surrounding properties, Komorek stated in her letter. Lupiano has spearheaded a public push for answers after he started a Facebook group focused on former Colonia students and the rare brain cancer, the outlet noted. Thanks to social media, Lupiano found a total of 104 former students and faculty with brain tumors - about half are cancerous. 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 . 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. All rights reserved (About Us). They learned of their tumors eight days apart. 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. "100as of midnight Sunday 4/10, I recorded the 100th case of someone having a primary brain tumor," Lupiano wrote on Facebook last Monday, April 11. The governor wont be embracing the bill despised by landlords and supported by tenant advocates. Exterior shots of Colonia High School in Colonia, NJ on Thursday, April 7, 2022. More than 100 people who graduated from Colonia High School have developed brain cancer. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. It's not air. All of the cases have ties to Colonia High School, either as students or employees. Lupiano, his wife Michele (CHS Class of 1991) and his sister Angela (CHS Class of 1995) were all diagnosed with rare, similar sized brain tumors on the left side. 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. pic.twitter.com/mL9bVg9nE4, Katy Tur Reports (@KatyOnMSNBC) April 1, 2022, A majority of the graduates and staff members suffering from the condition were at the school between 1975 and 2000, but some students went through the school as recently as 2014, the NY Post continued. katherine noelle wyman; cape breton post obituaries 2022. location symbol text in word; list of female jockeys australia; mike conley house columbus ohio address "Given the ongoing environmental investigation and testing, it is premature to comment on any link and/or causation of cancer diagnosis that may or may not be related to Colonia High School," said Woodbridge town spokesman Hagerty. Radiologic Technologist Per Diem. His wife Michelle graduated in 1991. Lupianos quest for information took him to Facebook last month, and that list of people who went to or worked at Colonia High School - and have a primary brain tumor - is now closing in on 100 cases. Lupiano is still looking for any and all Colonia High School alumni to come forward. "I had told my sister from the very beginning that there was too much of a coincidence that me, my wife and her all have the same tumor," he said. Thats what makes the numbers staggering, says Lupiano. Mayor McCormac says the Environmental Protection Agency is now involved. 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. Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily. Listed on 2023-03-02. Obviously, everyone's praying and hoping for the best," said Colonia High School junior Julia Pagnozzi. 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. There may need to be other steps taken. Its not air. She made it five years.". This is the preliminary step that they're taking to see if they can find anything. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. $4 Million Settlement Mass Torts $203 Million Class Action Financial Services $75 Million Class Action Mass Torts $200 Million Class Action The pool is getting a new liner, gutter and deck, along with new filtration systems. "I need your help Facebook. The testing was prompted after township officials learned of various social media posts related to several instances of brain tumors and brain cancer among students and faculty of CHS from approximately 1975-99. Unfortunately, hers was terminal, and she died in February. ', * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts, AccuWeather: AM showers before a mild afternoon, Extra Time: Breaking down massive NYC, NYPD settlement, Teammate facing charges in crash that killed local UGA player. Lupiano was diagnosed with glioblastoma (brain cancer) when he was 27 years old, about 25 years ago. One former student, Al Lupiano, 50, was diagnosed with brain tumors in the 1990s but subsequently recovered, according to NJ.com. Social media has played a big role in shining the light of truth on this situation. He said in 40 years of neurology, he had never heard of a married couple that both had the same type of primary brain tumor. "I had recalled two family friends, the Black sisters, had also passed of these brain tumors," Lupiano said. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor, said Lupiano. "That's something that we take very seriously. There have been some outlier cases. WOODBRIDGE Levels of radiation in and around Colonia High School were found to be consistent with typical background levels of radiation found in New Jersey and no further testing is warranted. His wife graduated in 1991. There's a vast array of treatments, but again, we're dealing with so many different types of primary brain tumors here that they're all treated very differently. And there are many different forms of these cancers. Lupiano told CBS News New York that"Fast forward to August of last year My sister received the news she had a primary brain tumor, herself. Would they just end it at that?. Earlier this spring . Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. 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). The testers are specifically testing for radon levels in the air after 1989 Colonia High School grad Al Lupiano proposed this theory that he found an unusually high number of brain. Correction 04/26/2022 9.51 a.m. Federal agencies are also assisting in the investigation. Donate today, Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations. As of April 11, Lupiano wrote on this personal Facebook page that he now has tracked about 100 people with rare brain tumors and they all are either Colonia High School graduates or worked in the school building. "In addition, DEP's further review does not indicate sources of environmental exposures of concern to public health. Mar 30, 2022 The Wanted's Tom Parker Dies at 33 After Brain Tumor Battle Al Lupiano, a graduate of the high school, believes there's a link between Colonia High School and brain. Almost 100 people from the very same New Jersey high school have all developed brain tumors. Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 1999. They learned of their tumors just eight days apart, while Janice was pregnant with her and Jason's only child. Some of these are non-cancerous, yet very debilitating forms of brain tumor. 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. They are leaving radon canisters at the school for 14 days, which will test for elevated levels of radon. Were all concerned, and we all want to get to the bottom of this. Part Time, Per diem position. This is when a low-level radioactive rock was found and removed from the school grounds. 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. While Lupianos wife Michele is still undergoing treatment, his sister Angela died in February, just months after her diagnosis. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I just felt like there were a lot of unanswered questions regarding the school, Komorek told NJ Advance Media. What steps are investigators taking to try to figure this out? Township officials have posted the radiological reports on the township website at www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us. What would you do if you went to the doctor, you arent feeling well, asked Matthew DeCillis, whose wife, Angela, died from a brain tumor in February. He added that the Environmental Protection Agency has gotten involved in the investigation. It's not contaminated water. The sample came back indicating PCBs at concentration of 4.3 ug/wipe (or 100 cm2), indicating that PCBs may be present in indoor air, according to a report compiled by Komorek and obtained by NJ Advance Media. A graduate as recent as 2014 was found to have a primary brain tumor. What I find alarming is theres truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors and thats ionizing radiation. Earlier this year, Colonia graduate Al Lupiano, also an environmental scientist, discovered more than 100 teachers and alums of the school who reported having brain tumors, drawing international attention to the community and sparking state and local investigations. Colonia High School is now the subject of radiation detecting research. Matthew Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, found no traces of radiological contaminants. That is the conclusion federal, state, county and township officials concluded after weeks of radiological testing inside and outside of school grounds in April and May. McCormac, along with schools Superintendent Joseph Massimino; Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and Judith Persichilli, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, announced the results of the radiation testing during a press conference at CHS on May 26. At the time, the medium lifespan for her type of tumor was 18 months. Concerns were raised by Al Lupiano, a 1989 graduate of Colonia High School, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor along with his wife Michele and sister Angela DeCillis, both of whom had. Some are the most awful worst kinds of brain cancer. 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. Hochul deflects when asked about 'good cause' eviction bill, Judge: Former coach's discrimination lawsuit against New York Giants and NFL can proceed, Supreme Court justices pour water on NYs push to save mob-busting seaport watchdog, NJ Legislature OKs bill to make landlords, sellers warn residents about past floods. He is presently working with local officials to address the situation. When a former student at Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, realized that he, his wife and his sister all had brain tumors, he wondered if something about their high. Three weeks later, Komorek collected a caulk sample from a northern exterior wall of the school and sent it to another state-certified lab in Fairfield. Medical experts are urging caution but also advising that there is no need for residents to panic. "My wife fought like crazy. A A. "We're just going to wait to find out. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. How did this incident come to light in the first place? 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 EPA and CDC are not testing at Colonia High School," said Hagerty. Additionally, T&M Associates has begun conducting historic site research to obtain any and all necessary records related to the construction of Colonia High School when it was built in 1967, through to the present. So that has already begun. He is keeping a list. Massimino sent the same statement to NJ Advance Media Monday. In 1999, when he was just 27, Al. The investigation started earlier this year after a stunning number of cancer cases in people who had a connection to the school. He said, What are the odds of this? It's exceeding one in a billion that three people this closely tied together would all have brain tumors. WWE Star Sonya Deville Arrested In Atlantic City On Gun Charge, Atlantic City Official & Council Candidate Facing Assault Charge, Former Press of Atlantic City Office Building To Get New Purpose, Atlantic City Area Residents Share Favorite Childhood Memories, Atlantic City, NJ Mayor Leading Free Resident Credit Repair Effort, Atlantic City, NJ Area Great Hurricane Of 1944 (AMAZING PHOTOS), Atlantic Citys Chris Ford Proved That Nice Guys Finish First, NJ Author Discusses What We Can Do to Address Bullying in Schools. 'Re just going to wait to find out to panic Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, no. Delivered to your inbox daily test for elevated levels of radon a billion that three people this closely together... The subject of radiation detecting research officials to address the situation this closely tied together would have. Exposures of concern to public health tumors, '' said Colonia High in. Can find anything if they can find anything that my wife also a. 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