Five nurses working in the same unit at a Boston-area hospital have been diagnosed with non-cancerous brain tumors, prompting them and their labor union to search for answers while the medical facility contends it has ruled out an environmental risk for workers there.
According to a statement that Mass General Brigham’s Newton-Wellesley hospital provided to NBC10 Boston, the five nurses either work or have previously worked in the facility’s fifth-floor maternity unit.
The hospital said it interviewed 11 staff members who have worked at some point on that floor as part of an investigation into the nurses and the tumors. Of them, five were diagnosed with brain tumors, all of which were benign growths, while the other six were found to have other health concerns.
The hospital said it worked with internal and government occupational safety offices – and that it consulted external environmental experts.
Officials at the Newton-Wellesley hospital said they gave every staff member who came forward the opportunity to be interviewed by the occupational health and safety team to evaluate their diagnoses in relation to their individual medical history and risk factors.
Environmental assessments of the area which began in December “found no environmental risks which could be linked to the development of a brain tumor”, the hospital added.
In a memo, the hospital outlined that it tested the facility’s water, measured radiation levels, assessed air quality and conducted other relevant evaluations.
Newton-Wellesley officials said they presented their findings to “relevant stakeholder groups, including the staff in the unit” and the union representing them, the Massachusetts Nurses Association. And it said the hospital had held forums to meet with clinical and occupational health leaders to address their questions.
Additionally, the hospital said that it was providing the union with the test results from the investigation – including those of several external environmental firms.
Citing its findings, the hospital added: “We can confidently reassure our dedicated team members … and all our patients that there is no environmental risk at our facility.
“As always, the health and wellbeing of our staff, clinicians, and patients is our absolute top priority.”
However, the Massachusetts Nurses Association told NBC10 Boston that it was continuing to investigate the issue.
The union has reported receiving more than 300 survey responses, emails and telephone calls from current nurses, other professionals at the hospital, and former employees.
“It will take several weeks to sort through the information received, vet it, and obtain follow-up, including medical records, if respondents are willing to provide them,” the union said.
The union also maintained that “the hospital only spoke to a small number of nurses” and that the hospital’s “environmental testing was not comprehensive”.
It added: “The hospital cannot make this issue go away by attempting to provide a predetermined conclusion.”
According to NBC Boston, officials from Newton-Wellesley hospital are set to discuss the matter in an upcoming town hall meeting.
