5 nurses on same floor of Boston-area hospital develop brain tumors

Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News on Apr 5, 2025

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Five nurses who worked on the same floor of a Boston-area hospital have all developed brain tumors.

In total, 11 members of the fifth-floor maternity unit at Mass General’s Newton-Wellesley Hospital have reported suffering from health issues, including the nurses diagnosed with the benign tumors. Two of those have the most common, benign type — meningioma — according to the hospital, which is located about 10 miles west of Boston.

The hospital did not provide specifics regarding the conditions of the other six staffers, saying only that they suffered from unspecified health issues, NBC reported.

In response to the cluster, the Newton hospital launched an investigation “in collaboration with the Department of Occupational Health and Safety,” but did not uncover any “environmental risks which could be linked to the development of a brain tumor,” Jonathan Sonis, the hospital’s associate chief medical officer, and Sandy Muse, chief nursing officer, said in a statement to the network.

The probe ruled out the water supply, disposable masks, nearby X-rays and chemotherapy treatment on the floor below as potential triggers, the hospital added.

“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 statement continued. “As always, the health and well-being of our staff, clinicians, and patients is our absolute top priority.”

But the Massachusetts Nurses Association has taken issue with the conclusion, claiming the hospital’s review of the environmental factors was “not comprehensive,” NBC Boston reported. The union added that it has begun looking into the matter on its own.

“The hospital cannot make this issue go away by attempting to provide a predetermined conclusion,” MNA said in a statement.