Colonia cancer cluster testers to use spring break week to finish data collection

Testing inside and outside of the school needs to be completed by Monday of next week. Crews will be taking advantage of Woodbridge’s spring break week to complete their testing tasks.

News 12 Staff

Apr 16, 2022, 1:45 PM

Updated 960 days ago

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Extensive testing continued at Colonia High School in Woodbridge on Saturday that will hopefully lead to an answer as to why so many graduates have developed a rare form of cancer.
As of Saturday afternoon, the number of cases jumped from 94 to 104, according to Al Lupiano – a Colonia High grad who blew the whistle on the situation.
Testers were seen last week and Saturday pushing baby strollers around school grounds, each equipped with testing equipment that detects radiation and radon.
"If we didn't think it was safe for kids to go to school here, we would take action and we would not have them in class," said Mayor John McCormac. "We have not heard that from anybody, we've talked to every federal agency, we've talked to every state agency and nobody has suggested that anybody is in any danger coming to school here."
McCormac said reports of about 100 people suffering tumors are nearly all graduates or staff who attended the school between 1975 and 1999. There have been reports of health issues with younger graduates as well, but not as many.
In addition to the testing being performed by the contracted firm T&M Associates, a host of government agencies are involved, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), state and local Department of Health, as well as elected officials.
Testing will continue inside the school as students are off for spring break until April 25.