115 Cancer Cases Prompt Call For Remote Learning At Colonia HS

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Nearly 2,000 people have signed a petition demanding a more robust investigation from the state of New Jersey and the federal government regarding a possible, unconfirmed cancer cluster at Colonia High School.

In fact, some parents are now demanding that the high school offer remote learning. This comes after a 1989 Colonia HS grad said he found an unusually high number of brain cancers and brain tumors in people who went to that high school in the late '80s and '90s.

But Woodbridge school superintendent Joe Massimino said Tuesday that he has asked the state Department of Education several times if Colonia can offer remote learning — and was told no.

"I have made several inquiries with the New Jersey Department of Education, but was informed that remote instruction is only available in the event of an active health crisis or emergency," Massimino wrote to parents this week. "At this time, the Woodbridge Township Board of Health has informed me that there is no substantiated public health concern related to Colonia High School."

"Based on the criteria set forth by the New Jersey Department of Education, unfortunately remote instruction is currently not an option," said the superintendent, adding that even the Middlesex County superintendent of schools told him remote learning is not possible.

"As a fellow neighbor, and resident of Colonia, I understand the impact this has on our community," he added.

For the past three weeks, hundreds of air quality tests have been taken at Colonia High School, specifically testing for radon levels in the air.

The testing was done after Al Lupiano said he found an unusually high number of brain cancers and brain tumors in people who went to Colonia. Lupiano grew up in Woodbridge and graduated from Colonia High in 1989. He attended college at Rutgers University and works as an environmental scientist. Lupiano, his wife and his sister — all Colonia High grads — were all diagnosed with rare brain tumors. His sister died of brain cancer.

Lupiano no longer lives in Woodbridge.

Lupiano said he has now found approximately 115 cases of people with cancer or brain tumors who either worked at or attended Colonia High School from 1975-1999. Lupiano has been publishing all of his research on his personal Facebook page.

However, no direct causal link has been found between Colonia High School and Lupiano's findings.

Woodbridge school district and the Township ordered the air quality testing in response to Lupiano's research. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac called Lupiano's theory "credible" and said it was worth investigating.

The radon testing at Colonia High School started before spring break and ended this past Saturday, April 30. Woodbridge expects to get the results back by the middle of May, said McCormac.

When Woodbridge gets those results back, the town will share them with the state Dept. of Health, Dept. of Environmental Protection and even the CDC, said both the mayor and school superintendent. Those test results will also be shared with the public.

But some Woodbridge residents said that is not enough.

Those who signed the petition said they also want water and soil sampling conducted right away.

"(We) strongly believe that this is not enough. Our children and Colonia High School staff deserve more involvement of the state and federal agencies," read the petition. "They are not conducting any testing aside from radiation and radon, even though the school remains open."

However, Woodbridge said it will wait to do any additional testing until after the radon test results come back.

"Any additional testing will be determined after we receive the reports from the recently completed radiological testing at Colonia High School," said Woodbridge town spokesman John Hagerty on Wednesday, May 4.

Lupiano similarly joined their calls for water and soil testing.

"The feds have the ability to begin air, water and soil sampling IMMEDIATELY," he posted on his Facebook page. "However, it is being said they will wait until the radiological survey results are finalized before they make any moves to assist."

"Given the ongoing environmental investigation and testing, it is premature to comment on any potential link and/or causation of cancer diagnosis that may or may not be related to Colonia High," said town spokesman Hagerty on April 30.

RELATED:

Colonia High School Radiation Testing Will End Saturday

Radiation Testing Underway At Woodbridge High School With Possible Cancer Link

Brain Tumor Link To Colonia High School 'Credible,' Town's Mayor Says

Statement from Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac released May 2:

We wanted to provide a summary to you in addition to everything that we have posted on our Township website and on our social media pages and in addition to information we provided at our most recent Township Council meeting that was videotaped and aired on our TV-35 station.

We became aware of the issue of possible links between victims of brain tumor(s) and/or brain cancer(s) and their attendance or employment at Colonia High School (CHS) through social media. We contacted the author of these posts, Mr. Al Lupiano, and offered our help. We also immediately consulted with the Township environmental engineering firm, T&M Associates, and came up with a plan to test both the air and ground inside and outside the school to check for signs of radiation that is generally agreed to be the primary source of brain issues.

We communicated our plans with various federal and state agencies including the New Jersey State Departments of Health and also Environmental Protection, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, the Center for Disease Control, the Agency for Toxic Substance Disease Registry and our own Township Health Department. We had the assistance of the offices of Governor Phil Murphy and Congressman Frank Pallone, who is the chairman of the Environmental Committee in the United States House of Representatives. All agreed that our approach was appropriate.

At the April 5 Council meeting, we passed an Emergency Authorization to provide $450,000 in funding for the testing and analysis and we authorized a $211,350 contract with T&M (which subcontracted some work to Cabrera Services) and actually started the work on Saturday, April 9. Our contractors placed over 100 alpha track detectors throughout the high school in every classroom and office plus the gymnasium and auditorium. These canisters were collected on April 24 and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Our contractors also commenced a study to obtain radiation measurements throughout the entire inside of the school building, plus across all 28 acres of land outside Colonia High School. That testing was completed on April 30 and the results were also sent to a laboratory for analysis and we expect those results along with the canister results within three weeks.

The Township and Board of Education are also searching through all records related to the construction of Colonia High School in 1967, but after 55 years there is little available. Our engineers are also undertaking research on the site to obtain any other records that may be available regarding the school construction.

Finally, the New Jersey Department of Health has had discussions with us about a plan to verify the information contained on the list of potential victims from social media, which to date has not been validated. The DOH has a Cancer Registry and they have offered to work with us to gather appropriate information from those on the list through their medical professionals.

The Township cannot comment further until results are collected and analyzed with all of our consultants along with federal and state experts and they will then be released publicly. We are taking this issue very seriously and we acted expeditiously and we are involving multiple entities who understand this issue to advise us along every step of this process.

It should be noted that at no time throughout this process over the last six weeks has any individual or local, state or federal entity expressed any concern that the Colonia High School building or grounds were not safe for students and faculty. As public officials, public safety is our primary concern and it includes Health as well as Police, Fire and First Aid among others. We have been transparent about our actions and will do the same with our results.

Thank you.

Mayor John E. McCormac, Woodbridge Township

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