There are now 108 people that were diagnosed with brain tumors over the past three decades who have either attended or worked at Colonia High School. A former student, Al Lupiano, is responsible for linking these individuals together. Al and his wife both attended high school in the 90s and both have been diagnosed with rare brain tumors, twenty years apart. Al’s sister died from brain cancer on February 17, she was also a former student. Two sisters who attended Colonia High School, died from brain cancer three years apart, both.
The City of Woodbridge is taking the lead in the investigation of the high school. Every inch of the school is being investigated to determine if there is radiation. 15,000 people have graduated from Colonia High School within the past thirty years. The Mayor of Woodbridge, John McCormac, stated “one hundred out of 15,000 have brain cancer—sure sounds like something we should be concerned about.” The school remains open while the investigation takes place. The Environmental Protection Agency and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are expressing concern but are standing by until the test results are completed. If concerning levels of radiation are not found, other tests will be performed.
This is not the first time Colonia High School has had concerns about radiation levels in the area. In the 1990’s a demonstration was being done with a Geiger Counter when a rock showed high levels of radiation. The high school was evacuated and a HAZMAT team came in to collect the rock. There has been speculation that during World War II the area was a lab used during the Manhattan Project to produce nuclear weapons.