Newton (Mass.)-Wellesley Hospital has concluded its investigation into a possible cluster of tumor cases among longtime nurses who work in the maternal care ward, finding no environmental contributors, The Boston Globe reported May 27.
Investigations by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Mass General Brigham Occupational Health Service separately found that all radiation levels on the maternity floor were within regulatory limits, according to an email the Globe obtained from the hospital. The state investigation performed radiation surveys, reviews of calibration equipment and maintenance logs, and air and water testing.
“These reports confirm that the environment at NWH is safe and we hope they reassure you of our commitment to your wellbeing,” President and CEO Ellen Moloney and others said in the email. “We are exploring opportunities for an additional third-party review for further validation of these findings.”
The investigation was prompted after seven nurses reported being diagnosed with noncancerous tumors over several years. The hospital said the benign tumors were of three different types.
“Most brain tumors develop for no apparent reason and are not associated with specific risk factors,” the hospital’s email said. The greatest risk factor for tumors is high-dose exposure to ionizing radiation, and typical latency after exposure is between 10 and 50 years.
