But at this point, theres no reason to, and it would send the wrong message to a community that is concerned that there is an adverse circumstance occurring that we see no evidence of whatsoever. Department Of Justice Introduces Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy For All U.S. Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies State Law Standards for Severe or Pervasive Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. Updated: Feb 28, 2023 / 02:45 PM EST. I understand the inclination to chase down whatever it could be, he continued. 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 . Meghan Holohan is a contributing writer who covers health and parenting for TODAY.com. "When my wife and my sister were diagnosed the very same day, with a brain tumor in August of 2021, it took me a few days but that's when I knew something was wrong," Lupiano said. Despite Thursdays announcement, several parents of Colonia students gathered outside the school said not enough has been done to put their minds at ease. Colonia High School was reportedly the common denominator among those suffering from the tumors Credit: CBS NEW YORK. The township worked closely with state and federal agencies in the investigation, according to McCormac. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Pallone also asked the DOH to facilitate the portal to collect and verify the suspected brain cancer cases so health experts can complete a scientific evaluation. Massimino said the Woodbridge school district will keep in touch with these state and federal agencies and will let the public know immediately of any new findings. He is keeping a list. Lupiano has worked for 30 years in environmental science. Get breaking news alerts in the free FOX5NY News app! Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Back in March, Colonia High graduate Al Lupiano posted his theory about possible links between brain tumors diagnoses among 1990s and early 2000s graduates of Colonia High and since then, he . In addition, an analysis of the state cancer registry by the New Jersey department of health found the expected number of primary brain tumors among Colonia students from 1968 to 2021 would be between 98 and 105 -- figures close to those discovered by Lupiano. 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). 94 people from 1 N.J. high school developed brain tumors. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. We requested that the agencies move quickly to conduct any necessary research," he said. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. "What I find alarming is there's truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors and that's ionizing radiation. Strategies for Protecting Standard Essential Department Of Justice Introduces Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy For Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies State Law Standards for Severe or Gold Dome Report Legislative Day 25 (2023). McCormac shared the findings of the environmental assessment in a press conference Thursday. 100 former NJ high school students . IE 11 is not supported. US Executive Branch Update February 28, 2023. It's not air. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano is. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. A mystery in Colonia. Reminder: High-Earning Exempt Professionals Must Be Paid a "True Gold Dome Report Legislative Day 24 (2023). Matthew Stanmyre is a sports enterprise, projects and investigative reporter for NJ Advance Media. Vanessa Etienne is an Emerging Content Writer-Reporter for PEOPLE. Environmental scientists are investigating reports of increased instances of brain tumors at Colonia High School in New Jersey. It's not contaminated water. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. The National Law Review is a free to use, no-log in database of legal and business articles. Edyta Komorek, whose daughter is a sophomore, questioned why the township refused to test soil and water at the school. Al Lupiano, a graduate of the high school, believes there's a link between Colonia High School and brain tumors diagnosed in 108 people over a period of three decades, ending in the early 2000s. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. Dozens of former teachers and. Lupiano says that he wants to know if an area like that contaminated Colonia. Strictly Confidential? Earlier this year, Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist and Colonia High School graduate, discovered more than. I still dont know what Im going to do with my kids, Komorek said. Woodbridge is working with the Board of Education, various state and federal agencies and Lupiano to evaluate data he has collected on individuals with various forms of brain cancer and brain tumors from about 1975-1995 who attended or worked in Colonia High School. He has won 19 national writing awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors in the largest circulation category, including four overall first-place finishes. Cancer clusters are difficult to prove because cancer is a relatively common disease, (and) cases of cancer can appear to cluster even when there is no connection among them. Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. These findings represent good news that we hope will reassure current and former Colonia High students.. Please consider subscribing to NJ.com. Al Lupiano first sent public nearly two months ago about concerns of a cancer cluster related to Colonia High School. "It's not something done to us due to bad habits.". Lupianos sister died from brain cancer earlier this year. Al Lupiano first sent public nearly two months ago about concerns of a cancer cluster related to Colonia High School. Advertisement. 94 people from Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey are part of a cancer cluster of still unknown origin. Three of the victims are Al Lupiano, his wife Michelle, and his sister Angele Decillis. Since . Does the Supreme Court have the stomach to tackle the super fun SECs Pay vs. By Sean Adams, WCBS Newsradio 880. An environmental assessment of all 28 acres in and around Colonia High School found no traces of radiological contaminants and the school has been deemed safe for students and staff, New. His wife is still undergoing treatment. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. A representative from the health department did not respond to that request. We want to help this community feel safe, LaTourette said during an hour-long press conference Thursday in the Colonia gymnasium. The probe was the result of concerns about a possible brain tumor cluster linked to graduates and staff from Colonia High, a school of about 1,300 students in Middlesex County. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Since his March 7 Facebook post, Lupiano said he now has 65 cases connected to Colonia High School that he deems credible. Nearly 100 people attending a single high school in New Jersey have developed rare forms of brain cancer. 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The agencies acknowledged their concerns regarding the potential cancer cluster, but are not conducting any testing aside from radiation and radon that the Township undertook, even though the school remains open. A former Woodbridge man has identified 84 Colonia High School alumni and former staffers with rare brain tumors and wants health officials to investigate. He graduated from Colonia High School in 1989. CNN's Ana Cabrera speaks to Al Lupiano, a former student who. Performance Rule Requires Disclosure of Relationship Tech Takeaways: SCOTUS Weighs in on Pivotal Tech Cases. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Earlier this spring, Al Lupiano, a 1974 graduate, discovered 122 people with ties to the school who have had a primary brain tumor and an additional 75 with other rare forms of cancer. Lupiano said he started searching for instances of Colonia High graduates having brain tumors and was stunned to discover 15 people in total, with two newly discovered cases pending further. 100 former students, staff of Colonia High School in New Jersey say they have rare brain tumors. He wasn't the only one in his family that had a similar issue. After the press conference he shared a post on Facebook, which reads, in part: My heart aches for my friends, family and fellow CHS alumni, teachers, and staff. Radon canisters placed throughout the school also were collected and sent for analysis. 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. If you have any information relative to this issue please reach out to the Woodbridge Health Department at 732-855-0600 extension 5027. Former Colonia High School student Al Lupiano first decided to investigate when both his wife and his sister were diagnosed with brain tumors, two decades after he himself had suffered from. In 1999, I too was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor on my left side. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. As for Lupiano, he is committed to finding the root cause of what has happened at the school. Murphy commented for the first time on the situation during a Monday news conference at state police headquarters. Pictured, a stock image of a brain scan. If you require legal or professional advice, kindly contact an attorney or other suitable professional advisor. The town also said in its statement that a radiological and environmental remediation company has been contracted to begin collecting data at the school. A spokesperson directed News 12 to the state Department of Health. Updated: Feb 28, 2023 / 03:42 PM EST. NEW JERSEY - A New Jersey man has uncovered a medical mystery apparently linking more than 100 people diagnosed with rare cancers to the high school they all attended or worked. So far, the experts have provided the community with important scientific consultation, but I still have not seen enough action," Pallone said in a statement Thursday. He says that more testing is needed, including air, soil and water samples. Woodbridge's congressman, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ6), has also been made aware, the mayor said. Approximately 1,365 students now attend Colonia High School, one of three high schools in Woodbridge Township. . The state department of health supports the actions taken by the township in conjunction with the department of environmental protection, which have determined that no radiological hazards were identified that warrants further investigation, Persichilli said. The New York City Council Sets its Sights on Non-Profit Housing DOJ Announces New Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy for U.S. Attorney Supreme Court: Salary, Not Daily Pay, Required for FLSA Overtime Time Is Money: A Quick Wage-Hour Tip on the Tip Credit, EDPB issues its Opinion on the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, Hunton Andrews Kurths Privacy and Cybersecurity. The City of Woodbridge has now allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to test for radiation on the schools grounds, and Woodbridge Mayor John McCormick has expressed his concern in recent interviews. It used to be a secret site that was part of the Manhattan Project the World War II-era project to create atomic weapons. Michael J. Prongay AGE: 52 Colonia Michael J. Prongay passed away on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at his home in the Colonia section of Woodbridge Township. After nearly 100 people who attended the same New Jersey high school developed rare brain tumors, an alumnus and cancer survivor is demanding answers. Al Lupiano, a Colonia High School . Preliminary results from the emergency studies could take a month or more to come back. (TODAY did not independently verify the cases.). McCormac was joined by Joseph Massimino, superintendent of Woodbridge schools, Shawn LaTourette, New Jerseys commissioner of environmental protection, Judith Persichilli, commissioner of New Jerseys department of health, and Kate McGreevy, an epidemiologist from the New Jersey Department of Health. We absolutely have concern. Lupiano said he is specifically looking for anyone who graduated from or attend Colonia High School from approximately 1975 to 1995. Lupiano and his wife both had an acoustic neuroma a benign brain tumor that grows on a nerve from the brain to the inner ear but his sister had a fatal, cancerous brain tumor. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre or email him at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. In fact, it is at the lower end of those background levels of radioactive materials.. He started to wonder why he, his wife and his sister all had these rare tumors, so he created a Facebook group to see if any other Colonia High School alumni had developed tumors or related conditions. Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist, began. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormack and the town council ordered tests be conducted at the school, which was constructed in 1967. Al Lupiano, a Colonia High School graduate is on a mission to answer that question after discovering more than 80 fe. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisKelly74 or email him at ckelly@njadvancemedia.com. April 16, 2022, 8:56 PM. Bobbie's Bests for Less: Save up to 50% off on Elemis, IT Cosmetics and more, 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 school could have caused them. 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. This approach of calculating the expected number was done to provide context to the community., McCormac added that calling it a cancer cluster was wrong. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define a cancer cluster as "a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people in a geographic area over a period of time.". Lupiano's wife was diagnosed with an abnormally large AN tumor, and his sister was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). Customer Reviews: Five-Star Enforcement and the Expanding Regulations. All rights reserved (About Us). ", Lupiano said another neurologist said he was very concerned to learn "that all three of us grew up in the same neighborhood. "I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15," Lupiano said of the alarming numbers. Children from both Colonia Middle School and Avenel Middle School feed into Colonia High School. McCormack says that town documents state that the school was built on virgin forest land. Colonia High School is now the subject of radiation detecting research. The health department also looked at brain cancer rates for Colonia High School and compared them to rates of brain cancer throughout New Jersey and the United States. We still need environmental research to see if there is evidence for concern. No Radioactivity Found at N.J. High School After 94 People Developed Brain Tumors, Study Shows, What to Know About the Ohio Train Derailment and Chemical Spill: A Timeline of Events, Parents Raise $3 Million to Save Their Kids' Lives from Fatal Form of Dwarfism: 'We'd Do Anything', Woman, 29, Charged After Posing as High School Student For 4 Days Before Getting Caught, Officials Say, Who Is Matthew Stafford's Wife? Colonia High School, home of the Patriots, was built in 1967. But results are not expected for another few weeks, leaving some in the town concerned. In concert with the Township Department of Health, we initiated contact with various federal, state, county, and local health and environmental agencies. Any legal analysis, legislative updates or other content and links should not be construed as legal or professional advice or a substitute for such advice. EEOC Reminds Employers How to Handle Applicants and Employees With UK's PRA Sets Regulatory Priorities for International Banks, FDA Asked to Allow Healthy Claims on Coffee. Risk factors for brain tumors include a family history and possibly exposure to ionizing radiation, Persichilli explained at the press conference, stressing that much is unknown about the risk factors for developing brain and central nervous system tumors. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. Colonia cancer cluster testers to use spring break week to finish data collection, Environmental firm collects data at Woodbridge school amid cancer cluster concerns, Testing to begin at Colonia HS after man discovers possible evidence of cancer cluster. This now makes three of us in one family with primary brain tumors all on the left side," he wrote. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Get great local news about YOUR town and state. Woodbridge Woman Writes Her 2nd Fiction Novel, Critically Praised, Perth Amboy Outerbridge Crossing Crash Blocks Lane Tuesday: DOT, Speed Restrictions On GSP In Woodbridge Prompt Delays Tuesday: DOT, NJ Camp Fairs at Menlo Park Mall Mar 4, 2023 - FREE to Attend (12-3PM), 2023 Spring Garden Tea Party Gift Auction, Raisin, The Tony-Winning Best Musical - Second Incredible Week, Johns Crazy Socks Enters the Wholesale Channel so Retail Stores Can Sell Our Socks, Tax Relief, Debt Service, Transit Fare Freeze: 3 NJ Budget Takeaways, Rutgers Professors' Union Considers Going On Strike. McCormac said the financial support is greatly appreciated, and it gives the township confidence it can keep moving ahead without burdening taxpayers. 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. North Hunterdon High School is a four-year regional public high school serving students from six municipalities in northern Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States, as one of two high schools in the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District.Students in the high school hail from Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough and Union . A man, his wife and his sister all Colonia High grads diagnosed with rare brain tumors. Some testing for toxins has been completed at a Middlesex County High School, but answers as to how they could possibly be connected to dozens of cancer cases may still be weeks away. As of Thursday, Lupiano said he has confirmed 65 cases of people with rare brain tumors and they all are either Colonia High School graduates or had worked there, he says. All rights reserved (About Us). Christopher Kelly is senior director of news and innovation. A Colonia High School alum said he found 107 people with brain tumors who went to or worked at the school. EC Appeals European General Court Decision Annulling the Harmonized Weekly Bankruptcy Alert February 28, 2023. "We have requested that the agencies move quickly to conduct any necessary research and verification of data so we can efficiently coordinate and facilitate any actions that will assist in the evaluation of the information and implementation of any environmental impact studies," McCormac and Massimino said in a joint statement about health concerns potentially connected to Colonia High School. The investigation found no traces of radiological contaminants that would contribute to the diagnoses of brain cancers and other central nervous system tumors or disorders. Some states have laws and ethical rules regarding solicitation and advertisement practices by attorneys and/or other professionals. Now on Thursday, Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said the town is investigating, and McCormac said he personally finds Lupiano's theory "quite credible and legitimate. 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). Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., praised McCormac's decision to push ahead with a township-financed environmental review. Lupiano, his wife and his sister are among those affected. If there were some new information to materialize we would investigate it further, LaTourette said. But we have confidence in the examination that was done here.. All rights reserved. There is a superfund site about 10 miles away the Middlesex Sampling Plant. He said the same day his sister was diagnosed (August 2021), "I received the devastating news my wife Michele (nee Zawada) also has a very large (3.0 cm), very rare brain tumor called an Acoustic Neuroma on her left side.". Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Al Lupiano and his wife, Michele, at their home in Jamesburg, attended Colonia High School together and both have rare brain tumors. The state Department of Environmental Protection says it has partnered with the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry to do an assessment of the site. Laumbach also says that there could be natural sources for radiation and radon near the school. I don't know that we know enough yet to be definitive in terms of causation etc. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. A town meeting is expected to be held afterward. Will the U.S. Supreme Court Make Marijuana Legal? The cause hasn't been discovered yet, but some researchers suspect . 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's one of 19 teachers that have died with brain tumors. The National Law Review - National Law Forum LLC 3 Grant Square #141 Hinsdale, IL 60521 Telephone (708) 357-3317 ortollfree(877)357-3317. Environmentalists have also placed canisters throughout the school to collect air samples for testing. 3 min read. Lupiano reported his findings to Colonia High School, which was built in 1967, and he is now working with local officials to identify the root cause. Multiple Concussions Result in Greater Cognitive Deficits, DOL Issues Internal Guidance on Telework Under the FLSA & FMLA, USPTO Launches Cancer Moonshot Expedited Examination Pilot Program. Lupiano shared that three weeks ago, his sister "suddenly and very tragically" died due to a very rare and highly aggressive malignant glioma brain tumor (glioblastoma multiforme). Lupiano was diagnosed with a rare and abnormally large brain tumour Acoustic Neuroma (AN) in 1999 when he was just 27 years old. : Advanced Marketing Compels Trial on Arbitration in a TCPA Health Plans Gag Clause Attestations Due December 31, 2023. His name is on it, along with his wife and late sister. Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. The rates are actually consistent in New Jersey with the United States, McGreevy said. Lupiano's sister died in February at age 44. News 12 New Jersey asked the state Department of Environmental Protection if the situation in Colonia is considered a cancer cluster. In April, he told TODAY was determined to figure out why he, his wife and sister all experienced brain tumors. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "The results will dictate the next steps," he said. Nearly half of these brain tumors were cancerous. Lupiano said multiple neurologists have been astounded by the tumors found in husband, wife and sister, and they told him the chances of this occurring are "maybe 1 in a billion. This story has been hitting news channels all over the state, from CBS to NJ 101.5. Our children and Colonia High School staff deserve more involvement of the State and Federal agencies.