Local News

Investigations conclude workplace is not to blame for nurses’ tumors

The hospital president cites findings and stresses commitment to staff safety.

The exterior of Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

May 28, 2025

2 minutes to read

The president of Newton-Wellesley Hospital said Tuesday that two additional reports in the ongoing investigation into brain tumors among labor and delivery nurses found no link to the hospital environment, reaffirming that the facility is a “safe environment” and “not the cause” of the reported cases.

In the past few months, the hospital has reported that seven current and former staff members at Newton-Wellesley Hospital have been diagnosed with non-cancerous brain tumors after working on the fifth-floor maternity unit.

In an email sent out to patients and staff on Tuesday, Ellen Moloney, president and COO of the hospital, said that for six months, the hospital has conducted a “thorough and rigorous investigation” into the environment.

Recently, the hospital received two additional reports — one from the Mass General Brigham Occupational Health Service (OHS) and the other from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health — that also conclude the environment is not the cause of the brain tumors.

The Mass General Brigham Occupational Health Service report included in-depth staff interviews, radiation exposure evaluation, and testing of the air and water.

The report says most brain tumors don’t have a known cause, even after ruling out things in the environment that might have contributed.

In April, the DPH Occupational Health Service accompanied personnel from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) during a visit to observe the working conditions at the hospital.

Additionally, the DPH Division of Radiation Control conducted a site visit that included radiation surveys throughout the facility and a review of the X-ray equipment’s calibration and maintenance logs.

The DPH report concluded that radiation readings were within regulatory limits and found no violations.

The report also included facts about the development of brain tumors:

Most brain tumors develop for no apparent reason and are not associated with specific risk factors.
High-dose exposure to ionizing radiation is the most common environmental risk factor for brain tumors.
Brain tumors can result from radiation to the head from the treatment of other cancers, and usually develop 10 to 15 years after exposure.

Based on the Mass General Brigham OHS recommendation, the hospital is exploring additional third-party review for the validation of the findings.

“These reports confirm that the environment at NWH is safe,” the email from Mohoney said. “We hope they reassure you of our commitment to your well-being.”