Case of 100 mysterious brain tumours
Earlier this year, a former resident of Woodbridge Township called for environmental action after he after several people from a local school reported mysterious brain tumours. Lupiano is an environmental scientist and confirmed 65 cases of people with rare brain tumours. A common factor in all these people was that they all either went to the same high school or worked there. Lupiano was diagnosed with the tumour 20 years ago and still suffers from lingering issues. However, when other family members of his were diagnosed with the same rare tumour on the left side of the brain.
According to Lupiano, a year ago, his sister also received the news that she had a primary brain tumour. Doctors diagnosed her with stage 4 glioblastoma. Interestingly, two hours later his wife was also diagnosed with a primary brain tumour.
“Fast forward to August of last year. My sister received the news she had a primary brain tumour, herself. Unfortunately, it turned out to be stage 4 glioblastoma. Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumour,” Lupiano said.
Unfortunately, Lupiano’s sister passed away in less than a month. He later posted on Facebook calling on all the alumni from Colonia High School to ask whether they have been diagnosed with brain tumours. The response was shocking. Lupiano found an alarming link between primary brain tumours and ionizing radiation. Lupiano further concluded that it is not something in the air or soil causing brain tumours, nor is it because of any bad habits.
The school was built in 1967
Lupiano was closely working with local officials at the time. “It was virgin land. It was woods. The high school was the first thing to be there, so there was probably nothing in the ground at that time. The only thing that could have happened, potentially, was fill that was brought in during construction. We have no records 55 years ago,” Woodbridge Mayor John McCormick said.
The mayor further reached out to the state Department of Health, Department of Environmental Protection and Federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry. “We are looking at possible things that we can do between the town and school, and they said they will look at anything we come up with,” McCormick said.
The superintendent of the schools, Dr Jospeh Massimino was also waiting to hear back from the environmental agencies regarding what the next step should be. He further added that he raised his family here and is a lifelong resident. Therefore, the safety of the students is of utmost importance to him. Moreover, he also stated that he plans on sending out a note to the school community to let them know about the stance of the unofficial research. However, the officials warned that official research has not been conducted and that there are many reasons to dig deeper.
Several people from the high school were linked to the mysterious brain tumours
Almost 100 people from a New Jersey high school were linked to the rare forms of brain tumour. While the cause behind the tumours is yet to be uncovered, researchers suspected that it may be caused due to environmental factors. The environmental scientist Lupiano further explained that 94 alumni and workers from the Colonia High School in New Jersey’s Woodbridge had developed brain tumours. The cases were both cancerous and non-cancerous including an aggressive type of cancer called glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain and spinal cord. This type of cancer can occur at any age but is more often diagnosed in older adults. It presents with nausea, vomiting, worsening headaches and seizures.
The investigations are still underway
The investigations are still in their early days, so there is no conclusion as to why so many people in the high school developed brain tumours. Most of the people who reported the tumours graduated between the years 1975 and 2000. What’s more, the cause of glioblastoma is largely unknown. While genetics is thought to play a role, some studies have also linked it to exposure of chemicals, for example, vinyl chloride, synthetic rubber, petroleum and pesticides. Lupiano believes that it may have a link to radiation.
Source: NJ.com
