Of the number placed in January, 18 percent weighed less than 600 pounds, 24 percent weighed from 600 to 699 pounds, 27 percent weighed from 700 to 799 pounds, 18 percent weighed 800 . Al Lupiano, a graduate of Colonia High School, tells Fox News Digital that since posting his theory about an apparent link between brain tumor diagnoses in 1990s and early 2000s graduates of . 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. Three weeks ago, I made a promise to my beloved sister on her deathbed I will uncover the truth! My sister and siblings attended Lynn Crest, Colonia Middle, and Colonia High School. 100 PEOPLE WITH RARE TUMORS WHO ATTENDED SAME NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL DEMAND ANSWERS. A majority of former students of Colonia High School developed glioblastoma, a rare brain tumour. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a true cancer cluster must be a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases of the same type of cancer or those proven to have the same cause, within a specific population over a set time. Market data provided by Factset. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. 3/21 UPDATE: I am scheduled to present my data to local, County, and State officials. Colonia Park Mall in court over $200,000 in bills In the '90s, the high school had another scare, this time on a much smaller scale that was ultimately ruled out as a possible concern. To summarize, primary brain tumors of this type have an incidence rate of between 10-30 out of 1,000,000 individuals. But in the field of public health, cancer clusters are defined by statistics, not gut instincts. A Record of Decision (ROD) for Soils was signed September 2005. Al Lupiano first sent public nearly two months ago about concerns of a cancer cluster related to Colonia High School. Al Lupiano, speaking to CBS2, said the rare brain tumors were discovered in people who attended Colonia High School. Al Lupiano, a Colonia High School graduate is on a mission to answer that question after discovering more than 80 fe. "The medical journals are rich with data supporting ionizing radiation causes brain tumors. according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York Division. 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. Edyta Komorek, an environmental scientist and parent with two children enrolled at the school, met on Monday with Superintendent of Schools Joseph Massimino, Colonia High School Principal Kenneth Pace and the president of the Woodbridge Township Education Association to discuss findings of some testing she had done at the school. Both sisters graduated from Colonia High School, just like Al Lupiano in 1989, his wife Michelle in 1991, and his sister, Angela Decillis in 1995. Updated: Feb 28, 2023 / 11:29 AM EST. 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. People who have been exposed to ionizing radiation have an increased risk of developing primary brain tumors, whether they are malignant or benign, according to the Mayo Clinic. Its very hard to pinpoint what it is that initiated that process.. How was this possible? On May 26, Mayor McCormac and state environmental and public health officials held a news conference in the high schools gymnasium to share their final determination: There was no indication of any potential radiological hazards that would warrant further inquiry. The draft guidelines promote listening skills and empathy on the part of state and local health department representatives, the sharing of information upon which decisions are made, and developing communication plans in advance of concerns being raised to build trust and credibility, said Dr. Breysse. In 1999, I too was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor on my left side. Was it the street or neighborhood where we grew up linking us? The city of Woodbridge has been taking the lead on that front, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for testing at a school that graduated roughly 15,000 people over the last 30 years. People move in and out of town. See Al Luciano's entire NJSpotlight interview below. McCormac said he has seen Komorek's findings and consulted with the superintendent of schools. I dont believe so as we all came from different parts of the Township. To report that your child will be absent or late, call the Attendance Hotline: (732) 726-7040 Posted: Feb 28, 2023 / 02:45 PM EST. All three of them have since come down with rare brain disorders. It was an entry point for African uranium ores known as pitchblende that were imported for use in the nations early atomic energy program, were assayed at the Middlesex Sampling Plant and then shipped to other sites for processing, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York Division. I am currently organizing data to formulate my next steps. Of special note: many are former CHS teachers and staff members who didnt live in Colonia, they just worked in the school. 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 . "I have full faith they will get to the bottom of this and they will figure out what is going on," she said at the time. Why Al Lupiano raised alarm over Colonia HS cancer links, Is it a cancer cluster or a coincidence? All the testing, both by Komorek and the district, came after 108 people from over a period of three decades ending in the early 2000s who attended the school were diagnosed with brain tumors. Cancer does not awaken all at once. 100 families having to be told the terrible news. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "To me their health is the most important thing.". It opens up more questions, more doubts, more anxieties, more concerns, he said. 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. When I analyzed the numbers I wasnt prepared to see the results! His most recent Facebook update, as of April 17, 2022, says that he has identified 102 cases. 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. 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. Market data provided by Factset. But she hopes the district will do more research. "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 . Trng Vng High School. On April 15, 2022, Lupiano wrote on Facebook. After Al Lupiano, his wife and his sister developed brain tumors, he reached out to former classmates at their New Jersey high school to see if they had similar problems. In the meantime, the investigation continues. Warning signs of bile duct cancer; 4 mins ago China's real estate market in 'thirst' for credit; 5 mins ago 3 lonely constellations have companions, difficult ones have someone to show the way; 6 mins ago Le Quang Liem won a beautiful victory against the Filipino-American chess prodigy; 8 mins ago Concerned about the agency to settle land . I needed more data. With confirmed cases now at 61 we have an incidence of 61 out of approximately 10,000 individuals. When the state health department calculated the number of brain and other nervous system tumors that would be expected among the cohort of students and staff from 1968 to 2021, it concluded it could be up to 120 individuals just slightly under Mr. Lupianos count of about 125 (though he believes his tally is an undercount). This is 18 hours a day. Further explanation of what occurred at that high school over these decades of people being in the building," Lupiano said. According to My Central New Jersey, the township has approved an emergency contract of $221,350 for an engineering firm to conduct radiological assessments at Colonia High School.. As first reported on New Jersey 101.5, Al Lupiano, a former Colonia High School student, was the one responsiblefor linking the people together. During the freshman orientation for parents, she collected a dust sample inside a bathroom which came back positive for polychlorinated biphenyls also known as PCBs, which have been linked to cancer in humans. 3/29 UPATE: The list has continued to grow, and now stands at 65 individuals. 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. '", Al Lupiano was diagnosed with a "very rare" and abnormally large brain tumor in 1999 when he was 27 called Acoustic Neuroma. So, if not localized exposure, and not something we inhaled or drank, what could be the link? This is alarming if true! "We immediately contacted our environmental consultants, the health department of the Township of Woodbridge, and township officials to review the information. Lupiano, his wife . Alumni links 65 rare brain tumor cases to NJ high school, investigation launched. 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. Its alarming because there are just so many people with a tumor malignant or benign, and its serious. "The Departments stand ready to assist Woodbridge in reviewing any environmental data it collects to determine appropriate next steps. Earlier:Some in Colonia not satisfied after no radiological hazards found at school. Lupiano, however, says Woodbridge Mayor McCormac is the only government official who has reached out to him for information. Earlier this year, officials claimed that penetrating radar tests on the grounds of Colonia High School concluded . She sent them to independent laboratories and says the results were alarming. is continuing. "I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15," Lupiano said. V Th Su High School. Send Joe Votruba an email. Im 99.99 percent convinced.. Lng Th Vinh High School. Lupiano, an environmental scientist, said he has confirmed 65 cases of people with rare brain tumors, adding the common denominator is they were all Colonia High School graduates or had worked there. ( NewsNation) An investigation is underway at a New Jersey high school that could potentially be linked to what's known as a cancer cluster. When faced with terminal disease, people often look for an overarching explanation as a way to cope with an unbearable reality. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. The New Jersey Departments of Health (DOH) and Environmental Protection (DEP) say they are involved in an investigation into the apparent cancer cluster, though Lupiano says he has not received requests for information from either agency. ", 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 victims all went to Colonia High School in Woodbridge in New Jersey . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. We all of us attended Colonia High School. Scientists and health activists say the governments current response to disease clusters ranges from piecemeal to nonexistent.. On April 10, Mr. Lupiano's list of former students and staff members with primary brain tumors hit 100 names. We understand that the state authorities will be forwarding this information to appropriate federal agencies," Massimino's letter states. Lupiano has been posting lengthy updates to his Facebook page: 4/11 UPDATE: 100as of midnight Sunday 4/10, I recorded the 100th case of someone having a primary brain tumor. But Mr. Lupiano said he ultimately hopes one way or another to be assured that all is as it should be. Marion Renault is a health and science journalist. If you are willing, please record a short video on your phone of yourself talking about your issue. Keep it to 30 seconds or less. "This is only the tip of the iceberg. Sadly, several have already died. Edyta Komorek is a professional environmental scientist. It started in 1999 when Mr. Lupiano, then 27, was diagnosed with a noncancerous one. Ultimately, if it isnt a radiation source that is causing these illnesses, Lupiano says other tests can be done to pinpoint a cause. And suddenly, it hit me! Among other things, the law calls for periodic updates to federal cluster investigation guidelines work that the C.D.C., compelled by the legislation, began in 2018. In 1999, the Corps prepared an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) to address the Vicinity Property (VP) pile remaining at the site. After the CBS Channel 2 News airing, the summarized radio broadcast on CBS 880, and the NJ 101.5 coverage, my phone has not stopped ringing. (Google Maps). WOODBRIDGE TWP., New Jersey -- Al Lupiano graduated from Colonia High School in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey in 1989. Updated Apr 17, 2022 at 4:10pm. Early testing at the Woodbridge school by a consultant for the . said Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac. The Township of Woodbridge took the lead in the investigation, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for testing at a school that graduated roughly 15,000 people over the last 30 years. NEW JERSEY - A New Jersey man has uncovered a medical mystery apparently linking more than 100 people . Thats 100 people with their life forever changed. Dozens of former teachers and students have . 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