An investigation is underway at Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts, after at least five nurses who worked on the same floor were diagnosed with brain tumors.
The nurses – who were all assigned to the hospital’s fifth-floor maternity unit – were among 11 staff members who came forward with health concerns, NBC News reports.
Five nurses who worked on the same floor have developed brain tumors. Credit: Google Maps
According to the hospital, all five brain tumors were benign, with two being meningiomas, the most common non-cancerous type. The remaining three were different types of benign tumors.
One of the nurses who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor told CBS affiliate WBZ: “It’s getting to the point where the number just increases and you start saying, ‘Am I crazy thinking this?’ This can’t just be a coincidence.”
“We want reassurance,” she added. “We just want to feel safe. The same way we want to make our patients feel safe”.
The hospital has since issued a statement outlying the investigation, saying: “Every staff member who came forward was given the opportunity to be interviewed by the Occupational Health and Safety team to evaluate each diagnosis in the context of their individual medical history and risk factors.
“To evaluate for any possible environmental exposures in that area of the hospital, comprehensive environmental assessments following CDC guidelines began in December.”
In a further statement, Jonathan Sonis, associate chief medical officer, and Sandy Muse, chief nursing officer, said: “The investigation found no environmental risks which could be linked to the development of a brain tumor.”
An “independent, scientific investigation” is underway. Credit: Luis Alvarez / Getty (Stock photo)
The hospital said its review, conducted in collaboration with government health and safety officials, considered a range of potential causes and ruled out disposable masks, water supply, nearby x-rays, chemotherapy treatment on the floor below, and other environmental factors.
“Based on these results, we can confidently reassure our dedicated team … and all our patients that there is no environmental risk at our facility,” the statement added.
The internal investigation was conducted with involvement from the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, radiation and pharmaceutical safety offices, and environmental experts.
Testing began in December and included assessments of water and air quality, radiation levels, the pharmacy’s ventilation system, X-ray use policies, cleaning products, mold, pest control procedures, and possible impacts from construction.
While air quality was found to be within normal limits, results from additional water testing are still pending.
Despite the hospital’s findings, the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), which represents the hospital’s nursing staff, has launched its own investigation. The union’s division of health and safety is leading the inquiry in collaboration with hospital nurses.
“Right now, the best way we can help is to complete an independent, scientific investigation,” said MNA spokesperson Joe Markman. “That effort is underway and may take additional weeks.”
The MNA has reportedly been contacted by over 300 individuals, mostly current and former hospital employees, in connection with its investigation. The union claims the hospital’s testing was not sufficiently thorough.
The discovery was made after a number of nurses came forward with health complaints. Credit: South_agency / Getty Image (Stock photo)
“The hospital only spoke to a small number of nurses, and their environmental testing was not comprehensive,” the group said in a statement to TODAY. “While we currently cannot release specific numbers or other diagnosis information, we are committed to being transparent about our findings when we have finished verifying the information we collect.”
According to the American Cancer Society, for a cancer cluster to be established, cases must be of the same type, occur in the same area, share a common cause, and exceed the expected baseline. “Nearly 4 out of 10 people in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes,” the organization notes on its website. “So, it’s not uncommon for several people in a relatively small area to develop cancer around the same time.”
However the American Cancer Society adds: “Some clustering of cancer cases happens by chance, but people tend to notice and report situations where rates seem to be above average.
“If the excess cases of cancer don’t seem to be random, they might need to be looked at more closely to find out if they might have a common cause.”
Newton-Wellesley Hospital administrators are expected to address staff concerns in a town hall scheduled for next week, according to NBC Boston.
