WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Radiological tests conducted at Colonia High School have found “no evidence of any cancer-causing hazard” and no reason for further environmental investigations at the school, Mayor John E. McCormac announced.

“We are very happy to announce that our extensive testing for both radon and radiation, in the interior and exterior, of the school produced no evidence of any cancer-causing hazards that warrant further investigation," McCormac said.

For two weeks in April, Woodbridge paid for radiological assessment at Colonia High. More than 100 radon detection canisters were placed inside the school and ground-penetrating gamma radiation detectors were used to sweep its grounds.

SIGNUPSCRIPT

To release those test findings, Mayor McCormac and school Superintendent Joseph Massimino were joined by Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, from the state Department of Environmental Protection, and Commissioner Judith M. Persichilli, from the NJ Department of Health in the high school gym on May 26.

Based on the results, those officials said:

There is no evidence of any cancer-causing hazards to warrant any further investigation at the school.**BULLSEYE
There is no “cause-and-effect relationship” between the school building and incidents of malignant and non-malignant brain tumors, or other forms of cancer reported among its former students and staff.
There is no evidence to support a theory that contaminated soil was used as “fill” in 1967 during school’s construction. Site topography and historic records shows the school was built on forested land.
The number of brain tumors reportedly diagnosed among former Colonia students and staff between 1968 and 2021 is consistent with the number of cases found throughout New Jersey. “Malignant and non-malignant brain tumors are unfortunately fairly common in this state,” Persichilli noted.**STANDARD
Based on a review of the NJ Cancer Registry, state health official would expect to find 98 to 105 brain tumor cases among people associated with Colonia High. Those numbers are close to number of people reportedly diagnosed.

Woodbridge has shared its results with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and with state environmental and health departments. McCormac said those agencies “concur with our conclusion that no further testing is necessary” at the school.

“We have confidence in these results. Children of this school, faculty of this school, parents and caregivers of these children, and people in and around this community can have confidence that this is a safe place,” said LaTourette, the DEP commissioner and a Woodbridge native.**BULLSEYE

“This is terrific news for the current students of Colonia High School and their parents who worried about their safety along with current staff members,” McCormac said. “It is great news for all former students who attended and staff who worked at Colonia High School since its opening in 1968.”

The test results came as unwelcome, but “not surprising” news to Al Lupiano, the Colonia High alumni who identified 122 former students, staff and neighbors with benign and cancerous brain tumors, plus 95 others with “rare and curious” cancers.

“They wanted to find nothing and guess what? They found nothing,” said Lupiano, who has led the charge for testing and generated national and international news coverage for his effort.

McCormac say he sympathizes "with anyone who has experienced brain tumors and brain cancers, especially those who lost loved ones to this terrible disease. But, there is no cause-and-effect relationship between those illnesses and the building or grounds at Colonia High School."

Lupiano remains skeptical: “It sounds like typical New Jersey bull$&t.”

“Declaring victory because radon tests found nothing is meaningless,” Lupiano said. “It’s like going to a doctor because you have chest pains. If the doctor takes your temperature and says you don’t have a fever, does that mean you’re not having a heart attack?”

“Those results are meaningless without digging deeper; without doing detailed soil, water and air testing,” said Lupiano.

He again expressed frustration that no federal or state environmental or health agency has requested the list of former students, staff and school neighbors he compiled since February. “They probably won’t bother now,” he said.

McCormac dismissed Lupiano’s list, saying it “has not been verified medically (and) not verified scientifically. It’s a list put together from social media.”

“I understand people’s inclination to want to test for everything and anything … to go one step beyond. If there were some new information to materialize, (the DEP) would investigate further,” LaTourette said

“At this point, we found no cause to do so,” said LaTourette, adding that further tests “would send the wrong message to a community that is concerned there is an adverse circumstance occurring. We see no evidence of (that) whatsoever.”

Lupiano, 50, a 1989 Colonia High grad and professional environmental scientist, was first to alert Woodbridge officials to an unusually high number of brain tumors and other ailments that he believes are linked to his alma mater.

He began to use social media to gather people’s medical information after his 44-year-old sister, Angela DeCillis, died in February. She and Lupiano’s wife Michele were each diagnosed with brain tumors in 2021. Michele Lupiano is still undergoing chemotherapy. Lupiano himself beat a benign brain tumor at age 27.

All were Colonia High students in the 80s and 90s.

Lupiano is now working with the national Brain Tumor Foundation to offer free magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screenings to students, alumni, parents; current and former school employees and area residents.

An executive with the New York-based nonprofit said the foundation plans to bring portable MRI devices to Colonia in June once a convenient, privately-owned venue is found to host the service

Meanwhile, Commissioner Persichilli encouraged people with questions about their specific medical concerns to contact the state health department’s Environmental & Occupational Health Surveillance Program at (609) 826-4984 or by email at eohsp@doh.nj.gov.

More information is also available at the Colonia High School Health Information page on the Woodbridge Township website.