"We and our children deserve more! Ive reached out to both the news and local newspapers, but have not received any interest. Since the previously stated incident rate of GBM and AN is 10-30 out of 1,000,000, the rate of CHS brain tumors is 30,000 out of 1,000,000. We have to really take a look at it, said Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac to ABC 7. A nationwide constellation of state cancer databases was put in place in 1992, but these cancer registries often fail to account for changes in residency. All of them graduated from Colonia High School, and they all have brain tumors, ABC7 reported. At an educational board meeting in June, Mrs. Komorek laid out the possible leads she and others would like to see explored, like whether the schools 1960s-era building materials contain mercury or formaldehyde. The perception of a cluster in a community may be as important as, or more important than, an actual cluster, the C.D.C. There is one well documented cause of brain tumors radiation exposure. Whether it be for a sporting event, concert, or other popular event, there's a good chance you'll be making your way to the Newark arena dubbed 'The Rock' at some point in the near future. WOODBRIDGE - Results are expected in a few weeks from recent soil and air testing at Colonia High School, following last month's finding of toxic chemicals linked to cancer and pesticides . Findings from an environmental review did not find any evidence of cancer-causing hazards at Colonia High School. "We immediately contacted our environmental consultants, the health department of the Township of Woodbridge, and township officials to review the information. The Army Corps of Engineers has a lengthy fact sheet on that plant. Lupiano's sister, also a graduate of the high school, died recently from brain cancer. We all of us attended Colonia High School. The Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are now leading the investigation into the high instances of brain tumor diagnoses among Colonia High School students and staff. I don't get that," he said. A scientist and mother is demanding answers after tests she conducted found cancer-causing toxins and materials were present at the school where more than 100 former students have since been diagnosed with brain tumors. They asked us to do this, and we did it. And suddenly, it hit me! I'm doing this not only for my wife, my sister my nieces are currently in the school but this deserves further understanding. An alum of Colonia High School in Woodbridge is raising the alarm over a possible cancer cluster among the school's graduates. The Woodbridge town council spent $221,000 to deploy 83 radon testing devices and conduct radiological testing at the school building and encircling 28-acre campus. "I dont know that we know enough yet to be definitive in terms of causation, et cetera.". If you were affected or have a tumor or rare cancer, I need your assistance. Mr. Lupianos list of former classmates and staff members at Colonia High School with primary brain tumors hit 100 in April. The township does not have records dating back to 55 years ago, the site noted. V Th Su High School. According to the television station, the sisters graduated from Colonia High School. Questions, corrections, or comments? Keeping my fingers crossed!! READ NEXT: Graphic Video Captures Death of 14-Year-Old Boy on Orlando Free Fall Amusement Ride. Potentially contaminated soil had been removed from the Middlesex Borough property over the years,with some of the soil used for construction right around the time of the construction of Colonia High School. Here's What to Know About Bruce Willis' Diagnosis, The Wanted's Tom Parker Dies at 33 After Brain Tumor Battle, Next Winter Storm May Bring Even More Snow to NYC Area This Week: What to Know. More than 100 former students and staff at the school have been diagnosed . More say the information flow is sorely lacking. It confers such chaos into the people who are affected by it.. A A. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. And the soil was right below where the caulking is.". Colonia High School entrance. 2021 DEADLIEST YEAR IN US HISTORY DUE TO COVID-19, DRUG OVERDOSES. A cancer survivor is vowing to untangle the twisted mystery of why almost 100 people associated with a New Jersey high school have developed "extremely" rare malignant brain tumors. 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. If I trusted those numbers, I would be relieved, and I would be happy, she said. She sent them to independent laboratories and says the results were alarming. Like 6 Comments |. She made it five years, said Jason Wisinski to the television station. Ultimately, if it isnt a radiation source that is causing these illnesses, Lupiano says other tests can be done to pinpoint a cause. Komorek said sources of PCB in the school could include window, door or sink caulk, floor tile glue, paint, fluorescent light ballasts, expansion joints, concrete and mortar, materials which can emit PCBs into indoor air. All rights reserved. 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. In 1980s, the contaminated residential properties were cleaned up, and the excavated soil was stored at the site in a specially constructed pile, known as the Vicinity Properties (VP) pile. ", The agencies continued: "The Department of Health will work with the federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to provide an assessment of the potential health effects. The natural world can also pose a threat via volcanic ash or toxin-spewing fungi. "Seven weeks we've been waiting for them to take a drive from Edison [New Jersey] to Colonia, New Jersey. The AP participation rate at Colonia High School is 37%. Jason Wisinski, who lost his wife and sister-in-law, both Colonia High alumnae, to . They weren't taken by a licensed remediation specialist, so I assume our consultants are going to come up with a plan to do some testing, but it will be official by state and federal testing," the mayor said. High School Lost My Transcript 16 /r/applyingtocollege, 2023-02-20, 17:42:41 Stage IV update 15 /r/pancreaticcancer . The school has stayed open, with local officials apparently telling parents that "at this time, there is no discernable health or wellness threat to students, staff, or visitors at Colonia High School," according to the petition writers. We did exactly what they wanted.. It's going to have PCBs, they all do. A cancer survivor is vowing to untangle the twisted mystery of why almost 100 people associated with a New Jersey high school have developed "extremely" rare malignant brain tumours. Whatever the city decides to do, Komorek said she hopes it goes beyond the tests they already performed. As previously stated, there is basically one medically proven cause of rare brain tumors like ours radiation. 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. The Middlesex Sampling Plant is located at 239 Mountain Avenue in Middlesex, New Jersey. Of special note: many are former CHS teachers and staff members who didnt live in Colonia, they just worked in the school. 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. I pray we find answers(as of 18:00 4/11, the list stands at 102 individuals), 4/5 UPDATE: There has been quite a lot of news coverage nowKatie Tur of MSNBC, NJ Spotlight, Tap Into, Infolad, etc. The study doesnt close anything. 100 families having to be told the terrible news. "They kind of understand," Komorek said, adding her children have to start over with new classes, teachers and schoolmates. "It's overwhelming. 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. These tumors usually grow at 1 mm per yearAt 3.6 cm, my AN tumor appeared to have grown at an unprecedented rate (I had an MRI of the neck and brain a few years earlier for an unrelated issue and the tumor was not present). While I am thrilled to have the information coming in again, its also very troubling to see the numbers continue to grow. Everything that was found is normal." McCormac said he has seen Komorek's findings and consulted with the superintendent of schools. McCormac said the investigation found "no cause and effect relationship between those illnesses and the building or grounds at Colonia High School." Kate McGreevy, an epidemiologist from the New Jersey Department of . Dose, too, is a major factor. Middlesex Sampling Plant to Colonia High School in New Jersey. 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. More like this: Online High School 12 /r . A former Woodbridge man has identified 84 Colonia High School alumni and former staffers with rare brain tumors and wants health officials to investigate. 3/21 UPDATE: I am scheduled to present my data to local, County, and State officials. According to Tapinto.net, Colonia High opened in 1967, built on woodland property near the Garden State Parkway, in the communitys estate section, surrounded by residential neighborhoods.. For public health officials, resolving this tension is the macro version of bedside manner: How do you reassure a frightened patient that nothings wrong? 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. 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. Facebook Colonia High School. 89. Colonia High School . There are hundreds more probable carcinogens of varying ubiquity under study, such as pesticides, parasites, night shifts and indoor fires. My wife fought like crazy. Any opinions expressed are his own. Ive requested a few pieces of historical data, trying to determine the history of the site prior to the construction of the HS. Komorek said the school should be thoroughly tested for PCBs from indoor air through building materials and soil. Al Lupiano, a former Colonia High School student, Pop-punk band New Found Glory playing rare performance near NJ, The cast of Home Improvement what they look like now, Bristol Palin on the mend after 9th breast augmentation, There is now a 24-hour Rocky TV channel, Gisele Bundchens post-Tom Brady magazine cover fuels satanic panic, These Speciale meatballs named best balls in New Jersey, Reward yourself! 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