Officials: ‘No evidence’ of cancer-causing material at Colonia High School

State and local health officials say that there is no evidence of any cancer-causing materials at Colonia High School following extensive radon and radiological testing.

News 12 Staff

May 26, 2022, 8:33 PM

Updated 945 days ago

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State and local health officials say that there is no evidence of any cancer-causing materials at Colonia High School following extensive radon and radiological testing.
Officials tested the entire 28-acre campus, including inside the classrooms, and found no evidence of any danger. Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Department of Health say they are all in agreement with the findings.
It is good news for the current students. But for those who lost loved ones, it doesn’t offer any answers as to the source of their illnesses.
New Jersey resident Al Lupiano started researching the connections after he was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 1999. His wife and sister eventually developed similar illnesses. Lupiano’s sister eventually died.
Lupiano then linked about 120 cases to the school and turned his findings in to officials, who launched an investigation.
"We sympathize with anyone who has experienced brain tumors and brain cancers, especially anyone who lost loved ones to this terrible disease,” McCormac said. “But there is no cause-and-effect relationship between those illnesses and buildings and grounds at Colonia High School."
"They can have confidence that this is a safe place,” said DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTuerrette.
But not everyone was convinced, especially Matt Decillis, whose wife was Lupiano’s late sister.
"That's my feeling - you need to keep testing until you find something. And for them to not validate the list nobody ever asked my brother-in-law for the list,” Decillis says.
State and municipal officials say that list has never been verified medically. There are no more plans for further testing.