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An investigation is ongoing at a Massachusetts hospital after multiple nurses on the same floor were diagnosed with brain tumors. The five nurses all work or have worked on the fifth-floor maternity unit of Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley Hospital, according to a statement from the hospital provided to TODAY.com.
None of the tumors were cancerous. Two of the nurses had the same type of tumor, a meningioma, and the other three had different types of tumors. As part of the hospital's investigation, 11 staff members came forward to be interviewed, including the five nurses diagnosed with brain tumors and six others with unspecified “health concerns.
” "The investigation found no environmental risks which could be linked to the development of a brain tumor," the hospital said in the statement. Another investigation led by the Massachusetts Nurses Association is ongoing, the group tells TODAY.com.
A spokesperson said they have been contacted by over 300 people, mostly current and former employees at the hospital, regarding the investigation. The group expects the investigation may "additional weeks." "The hospital only spoke to a small number of nurses and their environmental testing was not comprehensive," the association's statement read in part.
"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." The Massachusetts Nurses Association's investigation is being conducted by the group's division of health and safety in collaboration with nurses working at the hospital. Newton-Wellesley Hospital's investigation was conducted with the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, the Newton-Wellesley Safety Officer, radiation and pharmaceutical safety offices, and other health and environmental experts, per their statement.
“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," the hospital statement said. "To evaluate for any possible environmental exposures in that area of the hospital, comprehensive environmental assessments following CDC guidelines began in December." According to the hospital, the investigation included tests of the hospital's water and air quality.
The facility's water is tested regularly, but additional testing results are still pending; air quality was found to be normal. The investigation also examined levels of radiation around the fifth floor and the pharmacy's ventilation system, and looked at possible risks from X-ray use policies, construction, cleaning products, mold and pest control measures, and it found no issues, the hospital said. "Based on these results, we can confidently reassure our dedicated team members at Mass General Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital and all our patients that there is no environmental risk at our facility," the hospital said in its statement.
"As always, the health and wellbeing of our staff, clinicians, and patients is our absolute top priority. Newton-Wellesley Hospital officials are set to discuss the matter in a town hall next week, . Gina Vivinetto is a trending news reporter for TODAY.
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