Mystery as 65 rare brain tumor cases traced back to same school in ‘cancer cluster’ as families call for investigation

A MYSTERY is unfolding and an investigation is underway after 65 rare brain tumor cases have been traced back to the same school in a cancer cluster.

One former resident of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey is calling for an environmental investigation.

Al Lupiano is helping in the research related to the rare brain tumorsCBS NEW YORK

Colonia High School was the common denominator among those suffering from the tumorsCBS NEW YORK

Al Lupiano, speaking to CBS2, said in talking to people who attended Colonia High School all developed rare brain tumors.

“I started doing some research and the three became five, the five became seven, the seven became 15,” Lupiano said.

Lupiano, an environmental scientist, said he knows of 65 confirmed cases of the tumor. He himself was diagnosed 20 years ago and told CBS2 he still suffers from lingering issues.

His research began when other members of his family were diagnosed with the same rare tumor on the left side of their brains.

“Fast forward to August of last year. My sister received the news she had a primary brain tumor, herself. Unfortunately, it turned out to be stage 4 glioblastoma,” Lupiano said.

“Two hours later, we received information that my wife also had a primary brain tumor.”

Sadly, Lupiano’s sister passed away about a month ago. That’s when he put a call out on social media asking others who attended the high school if they were also diagnosed.

The number of responses he received was staggering.

“What I find alarming is there’s truly only one environmental link to primary brain tumors and that’s ionizing radiation,” Lupiano said.

“It’s not contaminated water. It’s not air. It’s not something in soil. It’s not something done to us due to bad habits.”

Lupiano is working with local officials to investigate.

Woodbridge Mayor John McCormick said the land the school was built on in 1967 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,” McCormick told CBS2.

He has reached out to the state Department of Health, Department of Environmental Protection, and the Federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry.

While the investigation is just beginning, the Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Massimino intends to keep the community abreast of the unfolding situation.