Mysterious Increase in Brain Tumors Among Nurses in Massachusetts Hospital Ward
- by Amber Baker
- Published
- Medical Trade
Ten nurses working in the same maternity ward at a Massachusetts hospital have been diagnosed with brain tumors, prompting serious concerns about potential environmental causes. One of the nurses, who asked to remain anonymous, says the tumors range from benign to cancerous, with at least three requiring surgical treatment. She also alleges that the hospital has offered little support or urgency in addressing their diagnoses or investigating possible causes.1
The anonymous nurse describes going to work with a “bad feeling in her gut” every day. “It’s getting to the point where the number just increases, and you start saying ‘am I crazy thinking this?'” she said. “This can’t just be a coincidence. We want reassurance, because this has not been a reassuring past few months for a lot of the staff members,” she said. “We want to feel safe, the same way we want to make our patients feel safe.”1
Hospital Deems Tumors “Non-Cancerous,” Dismisses Environmental Link
Mass General Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital officials confirmed they have been investigating since December and found that “none of the brain tumors are cancerous.” The hospital administration said in a statement that the investigation found “no environmental risks.”1
The statement said in part:
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. To evaluate for any possible environmental exposures in that area of the hospital, comprehensive environmental assessments following CDC guidelines began in December.1
Those conducting the investigation found no environmental risks that could be linked to the development of a brain tumor. The findings were presented to stakeholder groups, including the staff on the unit and the Massachusetts Nursing Association, and forums were held to meet with clinical and Occupational Health leaders to answer their questions. The hospital is providing the MNA with the test results from the investigation, including those of several external environmental firms.1
The signed statement concluded:
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. As always, the health and wellbeing of our staff, clinicians, and patients is our absolute top priority.1
Pollution and Water Contaminants Lurk in ‘Clean’ Hospital Town
Newton, Massachusetts—home to Mass General Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital—projects the image of a clean, affluent suburb with a low crime rate, but it is no stranger to documented environmental risks. In 2024, Newton found itself on a list of the 300 dirtiest cities in America, ranking 27 out of 300 for air pollution. The city also was ranked “moderate” for noise and light pollution.2
Additionally, tap water in Newton, Massachusetts, contains several contaminants flagged by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) as potential health risks, including bromodichloromethane, chloroform, and multiple haloacetic acids—all of which exceed EWG’s health guidelines by significant margins. Several of the identified contaminants are classified as possible carcinogens and have shown neurotoxic or developmental effects in laboratory studies. The presence of these compounds in levels far above what EWG considers safe raises legitimate concerns about their long-term impact on human health and whether they could be contributing factors in the alarming cluster of brain tumor diagnoses among hospital staff.3
Newton’s water quality issues are not isolated, but part of a broader national problem—one made more dangerous by outdated federal regulations and inconsistent oversight, as outlined in an alarming new tap water report published by the EWG last month.4
Hospital’s Staff Layoffs and Brain Tumor Cluster Announcement Occurred Just Weeks Apart
In February, just weeks before the tumor cluster announcement, the hospital eliminated approximately 1,500 jobs, primarily in non-patient-facing roles, which raised concerns about potential impacts on hospital operations and staff well-being. While the hospital’s investigation concluded that there are “no environmental risks” linked to the brain tumor diagnoses, some are concerned that the timing of significant staffing reductions could exacerbate existing anxiety among the hospital’s healthcare workers and lead to increased workloads, heightened stress, and potential delays in addressing environmental or occupational health issues.5
Neurosurgeon Suggests Ionizing Radiation Exposures May Be Tied to Unusual Brain Tumor Cluster
“The most common environmental risk factor for these types of tumors is ionizing radiation,” Neurosurgeon Betsy Grunch, MD said in a LinkedIn post. “But you have to figure if it was radiation exposure, they would be having cancers all over the body—not just the brain, unless there is some source of ionizing radiation exposure directly to the head.” Dr. Grunch also points to a similar case of a brain tumor cluster observed at Colonia High School in Woodbridge, New Jersey, where more than 100 former students and staff have been diagnosed with brain tumors over the past three decades. Both situations involve unusual brain tumor cases within a specific population and point to environmental exposures as a potential cause.6 7
Nurses Call for Independent Investigation
The hospital administration claiming no environmental link to the 10 brain tumor diagnoses did not quell persisting concerns among its staff, prompting nurses to call for an independent investigation. “I think the nurses should be the first people—because we’re the ones that brought it to their attention—to be told, and we feel like we have been the last to be informed on anything,” the anonymous nurse said.8
“I think the concern is [that] we don’t know what it is, and nurses are scared, they’re worried, and they want to make sure they’re not working in an unsafe place,” Paula Ward of the Massachusetts Nurse Association said in an interview.8
Mass General Brigham/Newton-Wellesley Hospital maintains that “not all of the nurses were on the unit at the same time and noted that some of the diagnoses pre-date the COVID-19 pandemic.”8
A Search for Explanation of Statistically Significant Brain Tumor Increases Among Nurses
While brain tumors are typically rare, emergence of a cluster among nurses in the same maternity ward strongly suggests a shared environmental or occupational exposure. Potential contributors include ionizing radiation from medical equipment, exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and long-term contact with hospital disinfectants or sterilants. Additionally, Newton’s water supply contains contaminants that exceed EWG health guidelines and are classified as possible carcinogens or neurotoxins. Chronic workplace stress and disrupted circadian rhythms—common during the overnight “graveyard shifts” often worked by nurses—may also increase vulnerability to illness.9 10 11
The nurses affected are demanding an investigation into the statistically significant association, highlighting the hospital’s obligation to ensure the integrity of the health, safety, and well-being of its staff that includes prioritizing thorough health assessments, maintaining transparent communication, and seriously considering independent reviews to address and resolve ongoing concerns. Although no single factor may be to blame, they maintain that the combination of these possible risks all happening in the same place warrants an independent and thorough investigation into the hospital’s environment and working conditions.
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Click here to view References:1 Germano B. Nurses at Massachusetts hospital concerned about growing number of cancer cases among staff. CBS News Apr. 2, 2025.
2 McKenna J. Mass City Shockingly Lands on “Dirtiest in America” List (2024). Live 95.9 Jan. 17, 2024.
3 Environmental Working Group. Newton, MA 2021–2023 Tap Water Quality Report. EWG Tap Water Database Accessed Apr. 3, 2025.
4 Baker A. Harmful Contaminants Detected in “Almost All Water Systems” in the U.S. The Vaccine Reaction Mar. 31, 2025.
5 Grey N. Mass General Brigham announces destruction of 1,000 jobs in biggest layoff in its history. World Socialist Feb. 17, 2025.
6 Grunch R. Doctor reacts to brain tumor cluster in Massachusetts nurses [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn Mar. 30, 2025.
7 Lewis K. 100 Brain Tumors Led to Investigation at NJ High School. Mayor Shares Results. Today Apr. 27, 2022.
8 Stern A. At
least 10 maternity nurses at the same hospital ward are diagnosed with
brain tumors — as expert warns the cases are ‘statistically impossible’
to be a coincidence. Daily Mail Apr. 2, 2025.
9 García-Pérez, J, López-Abente G., Fernández-Navarro P, Morales-Piga A., Gutiérrez-Alvarez M, Núñez-González . Mortality from central nervous system tumours and other malignancies in a cohort of Spanish nuclear workers. BMJ Open, 2024; 14(6), e084285.
10 Coble
JB, Dosemeci M., Stewart PA, Blair A, Bowman J, Fine HA, Shapiro WR,
Selker RG, Loeffler JS, Black PM, Linet MS, Inskip PD. Occupational exposure to magnetic fields and the risk of brain tumors. Neuro-oncology 2009; 11(3): 242–249.
11 Samanic CM, De Roos AJ, Stewart PA, Rajaraman P, Waters MA, Inskip PD. (2008). Occupational exposure to pesticides and risk of adult brain tumors. American Journal of Epidemiology 2008;167(8): 976–985.
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