Five nurses working on the fifth-floor maternity unit of Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts, have developed benign brain tumors, prompting an investigation into possible environmental risks. In total, 11 employees on the floor have reported health concerns. The hospital, along with government health and safety officials, conducted an investigation ruling out disposable masks, water supply, nearby x-ray exposure, and chemotherapy treatment as potential causes. The hospital’s administrators have 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 continuing its own investigation, stating that the hospital’s environmental testing was not comprehensive and that only a small number of nurses were interviewed. The union believes that a predetermined conclusion should not be provided by the hospital.
The American Cancer Society defines a cancer cluster as occurrences of the same type of cancer in the same area with the same cause, affecting a greater number of people than expected. While it is not uncommon for multiple people in a small area to develop cancer, the society notes that nearly 4 out of 10 people in the United States will develop cancer in their lifetime.ąż
State and federal health and safety officials have not provided conclusive information on the matter, and the investigation by the union is ongoing. The hospital and the union are working to determine the cause of the health concerns among staff on the fifth-floor maternity unit.
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