Al Lupiano, an environmental scientist, survived an acoustic neuroma, a benign brain tumor, after being diagnosed in 1999. Then his wife was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma in 2001. His sister died in 2022 at the age of 44 of a glioblastoma, an aggressive, malignant brain tumor, the same tumor type that killed Senator John McCain and Beau Biden, President  Joe Biden’ son. 

Lupiano’s posted on Facebook that his doctor was very concerned when hearing that both he and his wife had been diagnosed with acoustic neuromas, which is very rare. 

“It’s like both of you being struck by lightning,“ Lupiano recalled his doctor saying. 

The doctor pointed out that radiation exposure is a well known cause of brain tumor.

This motivated Lupiano to investigate his high school, built in 1967, in Woodbridge, NJ. He posted a page on Facebook, looking for answers. 
He promised his dying sister that he would find out if their cases were coincidence, or if something else was going on.

After posting on Facebook, the Woodbridge Township Mayor John McCormac started to receive calls from concerned citizens, and reached out to Lupiano, asking how the mayor could help. 

An environmental engineering firm was hired by the town to test for radiation and radon at the high school.

The mayor has been proactive and contacted the state’s Department of Health, Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry.

Lupiano meanwhile discovered that about 115 people have been diagnosed with brain cancer after working or being a student at Colonia High School in Woodbridge, NJ. 

According to the Mayor’s office, so far data from the tests does not prove a connection to the high school, but the testing and analysis will continue. The Mayor hopes that the school is not responsible for the so-called “cluster,” but the investigation into the possible causes will go on.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) defines a cancer cluster as “the occurrence of a greater than expected number of cancer cases among a group of people in a defined geographic area over a specific time period.” 

According to the NCI, with cancer being a common disease, cases may appear to cluster even though there may be no connection between the cases, and may be a result of chance.

This does not calm down the minds of the residents of Woodbridge Township, who continue to send their children to the high school.