Other agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences (NIEHS), may also help investigate. Komorek gathered dust, caulk and soil samples and sent them to outside labs for testing. Komorek also claimed the testing results showed higher levels of compounds that could potentially cause cancer, levels that exceed Environmental Protection Agency standards. Their commitment to students success is evident in their authentic interactions with students and families, their willingness to try new approaches, and how they collaborate with community partners like College Connect. Frankly, until I see boots on the ground, this is nothing more than lip service, he said in a recent interview, referring to the agency involvement so far. Or the types of cancer might not be related to each other. "Clearly, there's enough here to move forward with additional testing by the EPA and others to really understand a bit more directly what's happening in the soil and the building materials around the school itself.". "We should proceed with a bit of caution," said Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer of the American Cancer Society. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/faq.htm on April 29, 2019. The boundaries of the cluster area can be hard to define: Defining the geographic cluster area is not always as clear-cut as one might think it would be. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. At that point, steps can be taken to address it. There are reports of radiation causing these tumors at the high school, and as far as environmental exposure, radiation is the most common one, but it is still relatively low. Apr 07, 2022, 9:05pm Updated on Apr 08, . We understand that collecting environmental samples and analyzing them takes time, but that is exactly the reason why concurrent sampling of various media and parameters must be done ASAP. "It was shock," Al Lupiano, a former student, told "GMA" at the time. The testing began Saturday, and will continue for two weeks and will cost Woodbridge at least $221,000. Cancer Information, Answers, and Hope. The letter was sent shortly before a news conference with Mayor John E. McCormac and state officials was scheduled on the findings. The number of people with rare brain tumors who either attended or worked at Colonia High School in Woodbridge has grown to 117, according to Al Lupiano who has been conducting his own research into a suspected cancer cluster. Colonia High School in Colonia, New Jersey. Lupiano's sister, a Colonia High School graduate, died with a malignant brain tumor in February and both he and his wife, who also is a Colonia High School grad, developed brain tumors. This doesnt always mean that there isnt one; it may just be that one cant be found with the methods available at the time. Frequently, in hazmat, you never find it in the first shot," Lupiano said. The counselors, teaching staff and volunteers at THS go above and beyond to meet students and families where they are at. 1:44. Theyll need to make sure that the cases are cancer and that they know the specific diagnosis. Tax ID Number: 13-1788491. Environ Health Perspect. About 1,000 suspected cancer clusters are reported to state health departments each year. The pace and thoroughness of investigations is a topic that Dr. Russell Lonser, chair of the department of neurological surgery at Ohio State University, says is vital. Our children and Colonia High School staff deserve more involvement of the State and Federal agencies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definesa cancer cluster as one where there is a greater number of cancer cases than would normally be expected; where the same type of cancer is found, and where the affected population is defined by factors such as race, age or gender, among other factors. When you have as many as theyre saying they have, its going to take so long for the government to finally verify it, said Linda Gillick, who led community calls for an official investigation of the Toms River cases starting in the late 1980s. We are concerned Colonia High School parents, alumni, and township members, writing on behalf of our school community. In many cases there might not be a common cause for the cancers, but it can be hard for everyone to feel sure of that. All rights reserved. More than 100 former Colonia High School students and staff over a 30-year period have been diagnosed with cancer and local parents say the information they're getting on the investigation. The American Cancer Society offers programs and services to help you during and after cancer treatment. The cancers are a type that is not usually seen in a certain group of people (for example, children getting a cancer usually seen in adults). As a Senior Correspondent, her coverage includes education, health care, the environment, New Jersey politics and more. He rejected claims by community members that health officials are moving too slowly to investigate the possible cancer cluster. Views expressed by our advertisers and sponsors are their own, and are not endorsed by NJ Spotlight News. He and his wife, both Colonia High School graduates, were diagnosed with benign brain tumors over a span of twenty years. This petition starter stood up and took action. Why has no one attempted to contact the individual who brought the potential cancer cluster to light? "I would tell residents to trust the process here," Kamal told ABC News. Kamal said residents are not in immediate danger. Accessed at www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/cancer-clusters-fact-sheet on April 29, 2019. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) define a cancer cluster as a greater-than-expected number of cancer cases that occurs within a group of people in a defined geographic area over a specific period of time. Cancer cluster investigations: Review of the past and proposals for the future. These tumors, no one really knows for sure what causes them. Unfortunately, this is not a common outcome of cancer cluster investigations. Al Lupiano, a 1989 graduate of the school, has identified 65 Colonia High graduates, including himself and two other members of his family, who have been diagnosed with an extremely rare brain cancer. Often theres a concern that the cancers might be caused by some type of carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) in the environment. Research. Will you do the same? WOODBRIDGE An extensive field investigation that included assessing Colonia High School classrooms, building materials and the 28-acre East Street campus found no radiological hazards that warrant further investigation, an environmental assessment determined. Joanna Gagis joined the NJ Spotlight News team in 2018. Scientists in the health department might also look at reports in the medical literature to see if other clusters like this have been noted in the past. Some clustering of cancer cases happens by chance, but people tend to notice and report situations where rates seem to be above average. Trusted Board Certified Radiation Oncologists serving the communities of Avondale, Chandler, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Anthem . Al Lupiano first sent public nearly two months ago about concerns of a cancer cluster related to Colonia High School. Together, were making a difference and you can, too. 20? Goodman M, LaKind JS, Fagliano JA, et al. The assessment was conducted by T&M Associates, a consulting, engineering, environmental and technical services management company and Cabrera Services, a radiological and environmental remediation company which collected dates and conducted testing. College Connect Tempe offers virtual and in-person workshops and 1:1 appointment. Workplace exposures may be more likely to cause cancer because the level of exposure can be higher and might last longer than in other settings. Credit: (Robert Brainz via Flickr/2.0 Generic/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), More cases in Colonia High school suspected cancer cluster, State, federal health agencies wait for Woodbridge radiation tests, Colonia High School graduate suggests cancer cases linked to school. The township authorized the emergency contract of more than $200,000 in April to conduct the radiological assessment of the school and grounds after Al Lupiano, of Jamesburg, a 1989 Colonia High . If theres a hundred, theres probably a heck of a lot more.. We encourage staff and students to wear a college shirt on Thursdays. Cancer clusters in the USA: What do the last twenty years of state and federal investigations tell us? A New Jersey mom is on a mission to uncover more information that could shed light on a possible cancer cluster at her children's high school. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/nceh/clusters/about.htm on April 29, 2019. Well over a million new cancers are diagnosed every year in the United States alone, and nearly 4 out of 10 people in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013;62(RR-08):1-14. In addition, DEPs further review does notindicate sources of environmental exposures of concern to public health. Some of your concerns might be relieved during the initial phone call. There are very few direct causes to the types of brain tumors we are talking about., Dr. Frank Attenello, assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, tells Newsmax that he is similarly baffled. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Studying cancer clusters allows scientists to identify areas of increased cancer risk, as well as to try to figure out what is causing the increase in risk. Courtesy Al Lupiano Since March, Lupiano said he has found 107 people who attended. "One hundred out of 15,000 have brain cancer -- sure sounds like something we should be concerned about," Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac told News 4 New York. We couldnt do what we do without our volunteers and donors. Anenvironmental assessment was undertakento investigate concerns that the school buildings and grounds contained radiological contaminants that would contribute to diagnoses of brain cancers and other central nervous system tumors or disorders among former alumni, teachers and students. Despite the number of cases, officials first have to find if there is indeed a connection between the school grounds and the brain tumors. In most cases, an investigation will show that the suspected cluster is not a true cancer cluster. Added to this, some people will have moved into the community, while others may have moved away. Because of the fact that schools are considered sensitive receptors, due to childrens susceptibility to the adverse effects of exposure to toxins chemicals, the investigation of the Colonia High School cancer cluster must be of utmost importance. "So yes, we're taking this very seriously.". 2023 American Cancer Society, Inc. All rights reserved. This should include giving people a realistic idea of what may or may not be found. 2007;115:165-171. The parallels are the problems with trying to get exposure to all the organizations to try and get an investigation, he said. Lupiano is also the whistleblower who discovered a possible cancer cluster in graduates and educators from the high school. For more complex or urgent situations, the health department might also call in experts from the CDC or other federal agencies to help do a more in-depth investigation. The areas with more cases than expected are more likely to be noticed. 2012. Its unfortunate, especially when the numbers are there to show that theres something there. The Jacob Fuchsberg Law Firm is investigating a potential cancer cluster at Colonia High School in Woodbridge, NJ which may be linked to students and staff exposure to radiation on the school grounds over the past five decades., The initial investigation began several weeks ago, when 1989 graduate Al Lupiano rang the alarm bell that there seemed to be an unusual amount of cancer cases among graduates of the high school., Mr. Lupiano was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma on the left side of his brain in 1999. Note that the definition of a cancer cluster does not include anything about the cancers all having a common cause. For example, the number of cases might not really be higher than expected once other factors that could explain the increase (such as peoples age, gender, and tobacco use) are taken into account. Angela has four daughters who have or will go to Colonia High . They should let the authorities know that they want answers because without the public outcry there is not going to be the pressure thats needed to make this right, she said. The onset of brain tumors in more than one hundred people who attended or worked at Colonia High School in New Jersey has continued to baffle experts. The type(s) of cancer seen is also important. 2023 NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, The number of people with rare brain tumors has grown to 117. The township authorized the emergency contract of more than $200,000 in April to conduct the radiological assessment of the school and grounds after Al Lupiano, of Jamesburg, a 1989 Colonia High School graduate,developed a list of more than 120 people who were students, teachers or staff members at the school who have apparently developed brain tumors. "If we can enrich science by showing that an unknown compound is in high concentration and link it to primary brain tumors, maybe we can protect others, remove it from our environment to make sure it never happens again," he said. Some people might be comforted if an investigation finds no clear cause for a cluster, but others might find it worrisome or frustrating. Crit Rev Toxicol. Collections of cancers that dont meet all parts of this definition are much less likely to be true cancer clusters. In conclusion, the results of the radiological investigation at the high schooland grounds are within the normal variation of background radiation levels inNew Jersey and are therefore not indicative of concern over radiologicalexposure to individuals at the site. some factors that do not support the need for further investigation include: If the health department feels that the potential cluster should be studied further, they will collect more information. We can also help you find other free or low-cost resources available. Those three compounds are known or are probable carcinogens," Komorek said. Suspected cancer clusters can cause a great deal of concern and confusion in a community. By making classroom visits students obtain the tools they need to start completing tasks like exploring colleges, careers, scheduling appointments with college representatives: Thursdays - college T-shirt Spirit Day! Humans arent like lab animals their environments arent strictly controlled. due to a cancer cluster of people who have worked, or attended school and are now diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Cancer Cluster FAQ. Int J Environ Res Public Health. It seems like the same thing here, its retroactive rather than proactive, he said, referring to the Colonia case. Lupiano, who is also an environmental scientist, and his wife Michelle-- both graduates of the high school -- were diagnosed with benign brain tumors 20 years apart. Parents like Dawn Genoni are willing to wait for those results. Many in the community have been on edge for months following reports of an alleged cancer cluster possibly linked to the school. People are exposed to countless natural and man-made substances during their lifetimes, and to make this even more complex, these can interact with each other. If the excess cases of cancer dont seem to be random, they might need to be looked at more closely to find out if they might have a common cause. Regardless of what the radon analysis and radiological survey reveals, air, water, and soil sampling must be conducted right away. Promotion of partner events: It's important to also promote other events especially local eventsthat students can attend. April 09, 2022, 10:00 a.m. WOODBRIDGE TWP., NJ - Testing began Today at Colonia High School due to a cancer cluster of people who have worked, or attended school and are now diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Just how big should the bulls eye be? However, Kamal said, it's appropriate for authorities to thoroughly investigate higher-than-expected rates of brain tumors in a community. . By Maxwell Newman | 2012;42(6):474-490. But just what is a cancer cluster? As soon as they found this goop was in the water, they immediately shut down those wells, and from that day on the rate of childhood cancer in Toms River began to decline, he said. Environmental scientist Al Lupiano tells NBC4 New York that there may be a common link. Advocates for an official investigation into fears of a cancer cluster at the Middlesex County high school say there are parallels to the notorious water system contamination in the Ocean County town that was blamed for more than 130 cases of childhood cancer in the 1990s. Help us end cancer as we know it,for everyone. And what did the people with cancer have in common during that time? Facebook Colonia High School A cluster of brain tumors and cancer in people associated with a single New Jersey high school is causing concern. Lonser adds that a lot of details are still unknown at this stage. Our team is made up of doctors andoncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
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