Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts is investigating after 5 nurses who worked on the same maternity unit floor developed benign brain tumors. A total of 11 employees on the fifth floor reported health concerns, but the investigation did not find any environmental risks that could be connected to the tumors. The hospital ruled out various potential sources such as disposable masks, water supply, x-rays, and chemotherapy treatment. The Massachusetts Nurses Association is continuing its own investigation to ensure that a comprehensive analysis is conducted. According to the American Cancer Society, for a cancer cluster to be established, the occurrences must be of the same type, in the same area, with the same cause, and affecting a greater number of people than expected. The society also notes that cancer is common in the United States, with nearly 4 out of 10 individuals developing the disease in their lifetime. The hospital’s administrators have reassured staff and patients that there is no environmental risk at the facility and are working to address concerns raised by the nurses and the union. Government health and safety officials have collaborated with the hospital in this investigation, but conclusive information from a state agency and federal occupational health and safety officials is still pending.
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