Massachusetts nurses with brain tumors: Department of Public Health 'in communication' with Newton-Wellesley

Rick Sobey, Boston Herald on Apr 7, 2025

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BOSTON — The state Department of Public Health is “in communication” with Newton-Wellesley Hospital after a reported group of nurses were diagnosed with brain tumors.

The diagnosed nurses have worked at some point in the maternal care labor/delivery unit on the hospital’s fifth floor, according to hospital officials.

As of last week, 11 staff members had been interviewed by the Mass General Brigham Occupational Health Service. Five cases were determined to be brain tumors of three different types — all of which were benign (non-cancerous). The only type of benign tumor that had more than one case was meningioma.

Six cases were determined to not be brain tumors, but rather other health concerns.

Newton-Wellesley Hospital officials have been assuring staff and patients that there’s “no environmental risk” at the facility, while the Massachusetts Nurses Association said it’s still investigating the situation.

On Monday, the Herald reached out to the state Department of Public Health about the reported cluster.

“The Department of Public Health is aware of this matter and is in communication with the hospital,” DPH said in a statement. “The hospital is conducting an internal investigation.”

Newton-Wellesley shared the findings of its investigation with DPH, according to a hospital spokesperson.

This situation at the Mass General Brigham facility was first reported by WBZ.

After hospital officials learned of the reported brain tumors, they conducted an investigation with the Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Newton-Wellesley Safety Officer, radiation and pharmaceutical safety offices, and external environmental consultants.

“The investigation found no environmental risks which could be linked to the development of a brain tumor,” hospital officials said in a statement.

“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 officials added. “As always, the health and wellbeing of our staff, clinicians, and patients is our absolute top priority.”

Staff members have raised several concerns about this cluster of cases. The hospital addressed questions about whether brain tumor cases can be related to: wearing masks during the pandemic, the drinking water, use of x-rays, the pharmacy on the floor below, cleaning products, past renovations, or mold.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association’s division of health and safety, consisting of occupational health nurses, is investigating the situation.

“We do not have a specific number (of nurses) we are releasing now because we are still verifying diagnoses via medical records. We do not have a specific cause as we are still investigating,” a spokesperson for the union said in a statement.

“We brought this to the hospital in December to urge an investigation by MGB,” the union spokesperson added. “We have been in communication with NWH nurses about this regularly and specifically with nurses who are self-reporting.”

The union spokesperson said the investigation is focused on the maternity unit, though they have reports from other areas as well.

“We are engaging with the hospital about their inquiry,” the union spokesperson said. “They only spoke to a small number of nurses and their environmental testing was not comprehensive. The hospital cannot make this issue go away by attempting to provide a predetermined conclusion.”

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