Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts, is investigating after five nurses on the fifth-floor maternity unit developed benign brain tumors. A total of 11 employees reported health concerns, prompting the investigation. The hospital found no environmental risks associated with the tumors after ruling out factors such as disposable masks, water supply, nearby x-rays, and chemotherapy treatment on the floor below. The hospital assured staff and patients that there is no environmental risk at the facility.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association, the union representing nurses at the hospital, is conducting an independent scientific investigation to further explore the situation. The union believes that the hospital’s investigation was not comprehensive and that the issue cannot be dismissed with a predetermined conclusion. A state agency and federal occupational health and safety officials have not provided conclusive information on the matter yet.
The American Cancer Society states that in order for occurrences to be classified as a cancer cluster, they must be the same type, in the same area, have the same cause, and affect more people than expected. The society also notes that cancer is a common occurrence in the United States, with nearly 4 out of 10 people developing cancer in their lifetimes.
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