In a concerning development, five nurses who worked on the same floor at Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts, have been diagnosed with brain tumors.

This unusual cluster of cases, reported on April 4, 2025, has prompted an investigation by the hospital and raised questions about potential workplace hazards.

According to NBC News, the five nurses all worked on the fifth-floor maternity unit at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, located approximately 10 miles west of Boston.

The hospital reported that, in total, 11 employees from this unit had come forward with health concerns, with five ultimately receiving diagnoses of brain tumors.

Notably, all of the tumors identified were benign, with two being meningiomas—the most common type of benign brain tumor.

The hospital emphasized that an internal investigation, conducted in collaboration with government health and safety officials, found no environmental risks that could be definitively linked to the tumors’ development.

The Independent highlighted the rarity of the situation, noting that the tumors were of three different benign types, adding complexity to the case.

Hospital officials, including Associate Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Sonis and Chief Nursing Officer Sandy Muse, stated that their investigation explored numerous potential causes.

They examined factors such as disposable masks, the water supply, nearby x-ray exposure, and even chemotherapy treatments administered on the floor below. Despite these efforts, no clear environmental culprit was identified, leaving the cause of this cluster a mystery.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), the union representing the nurses at Newton-Wellesley, has vowed to conduct its own independent investigation.

MNA spokesperson Joe Markman told NBC News that nurses initially raised workplace health concerns, which led to the discovery of the tumor cases.

“Right now, the best way we can help is to complete an independent, scientific investigation,” Markman said, adding that this process could take several weeks.

The union’s involvement underscores the seriousness with which the nursing community is approaching this issue, as well as their determination to ensure the safety of their members.

Public reaction, as reflected in posts on X, has ranged from shock and concern to frustration.

Some users expressed skepticism about the hospital’s findings, with one suggesting that responsible parties might “continue to lie” while the nurses suffer.

Others simply shared the news with expressions of disbelief, amplifying the story’s reach and the public’s demand for answers.

While the hospital maintains that no workplace link has been established, the coincidence of five nurses from the same unit developing brain tumors has understandably raised alarm.

Benign tumors, though not cancerous, can still cause significant health challenges depending on their size and location, potentially requiring surgery or other interventions.

The fact that these cases emerged within a single department suggests a potential pattern that warrants further scrutiny, even if environmental factors have so far been ruled out.