Woodbridge: No Cancer-Causing Radiation Found At Colonia High School

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — There are "no radiological hazards" at Colonia High School that could cause brain cancer or brain tumors, the Woodbridge school district and state of New Jersey emphatically announced Thursday.

This spring, Woodbridge Township had both the air and soil at Colonia High School tested for radiation, after a 1989 graduate Al Lupiano said he found 121 cases of brain cancer in Colonia grads, and theorized there could be a link to the high school.

"We are very happy to announce that our extensive testing for radiation in the interior and exterior of the building provides no further evidences that warrants further investigation," said Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac. "This is terrific news for the current students and former students."

A highly anticipated press conference was held at the high school Thursday to announce the test results; the press conference was livestreamed here: http://www.twp.woodbridge.nj.u...

McCormac said the federal Environmental Protection Agency and New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection "agrees with and supports our findings."

Both air and soil testing was done, said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette and Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, who attended the press conference held in the school gym.

Tests turned up no evidence of radon or radiological contamination.

"This building and grounds are consistent with the typical background levels of radiation found in New Jersey, and is in fact at the lower end," said DEP Commissioner LaTourette. "We looked at the the geology of the area, known contaminating sites within the vicinity, the history of land use of this area, etc."

McCormac said the high school was built on a mostly forested site, and that even the fill that was brought in showed no radiation levels.

"We also looked into various theories that contaminated fill was brought to the site from a landfill 12 miles away when the school was constructed back in 1967," said McCormac. "We found no evidence to support this theory. The school was built on forested land with no prior use and construction experts agree that based on the topography of the site, it was very likely that dirt was moved around to level the building but that no material needed to be imported during the process."

McCormac also dismissed a question that there could be cancer-causing agents in the school's drinking water.

"The water is simply not an issue; Middlesex County water is testing daily, hourly," said the mayor. "That is simply not an issue."

LaTourette also said that media outlets that called this a "cancer cluster" were irresponsible and "ill informed."

Lupiano responds

Thursday's announcement dramatically refutes Lupiano's theory. Four minutes after the press conference concluded, Lupiano wrote on his Facebook page:

"While the representatives we pay to protect us have declared victory, after doing the least amount of work possible, over 200 people have either died or are suffering from brain tumors and rare cancers," he said. "My heart aches for my friends, family, and fellow Colonia High School alumni, teachers, and staff. I don’t know about you … but I’m not giving up so easy … with or without the help of others, the truth will be uncovered and the guilty will be held accountable…so help me God!"

"A guy goes to his doctor saying, “doctor…please help me. I feel awful and fear I may be dying”. In response, the doctor takes his temperature, observes 98.6, and declares him in perfect health and sends him on his way," he added.

Others reacting to the news on Facebook were highly skeptical of the state's declaration:

"Unless he announces that there will be further testing for multiple contaminants on air, soil and water samples from the campus grounds ... how can he say the building is safe?" wrote one Woodbridge resident.

Lupiano, his wife and his sister all developed brain tumors, and all are Colonia High grads.

Lupiano, a Rutgers grad and who works as an environmental scientist, said he has now found approximately 121 cases of people with cancer or brain tumors who either worked at or attended Colonia High School from 1975-1999.

As Lupiano's theories gained national attention, the town of Woodbridge hired an outside environmental testing firm to do radon air testing at the high school. The testing started April 9 and lasted for two weeks. Testers left radon canisters at the school for 14 days, which will test for elevated levels of radon. Woodbridge Township hired T&M Associates and Cabrera Services, Inc. to do the radon testing, paying them $221,350.

“I am beyond pleased to announce that after an extensive field investigation that included assessing the classrooms, school building materials and the entire 28 acres of the Colonia High School campus, no radiological hazards were identified that warrant further investigation,” Woodbridge schools superintendent Joseph Massimino wrote in this letter home to parents.

Except for when it was closed for spring break, Colonia High School has been open this entire time the testing was done, with thousands of students and teachers streaming in and out of the building each day.