An investigation is underway at a hospital in Massachusetts after six members of staff all working on the same floor have been diagnosed with tumors in the head.
Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley Hospital assured that the investigation is ongoing as it shared the news of a sixth diagnosis, which came in an update posted to its official website.
The news comes after 11 employees from the unit reported experiencing health issues, five of which were then determined to be benign tumors.
Three of the first five tumors are reportedly brain tumors, while the remaining two were found to be meningiomas - the 'most common type of tumor that forms in the head,' according to the Mayo Clinic.
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Now, the hospital has announced that the Mass General Brigham Department of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has identified a sixth member of staff with a benign tumor.
In its statement, the hospital said each of the six employees had worked for 'varying durations' on its fifth floor, and that the cases of brain tumors had occured over 'many years'.
In the wake of the concerning trend, Newton-Wellesley Hospital launched a 'comprehensive evaluation' of the environment on the fifth floor, with analysis led by the OHS and conducted by a group of experts, including several independent firms.
The investigation has involved interviews of the staff who have been impacted by health issues, as well as a 'thorough' review of air and water quality, and comprehensive testing for any potential radiation, chemical, or pharmaceutical exposures.
Sharing the findings, the hospital said: "Based on the results of this rigorous ongoing investigation, we can assure you that no environmental risks have been identified at our hospital [...] While the OHS investigation is ongoing, we have found no evidence that these medical conditions were caused by the work environment."
The hospital went on to assure the 'health, wellbeing, and safety' of both patients, visitors and employees at the facility remain 'top priority'.
"While there has been a great deal of misinformation shared on social media and in other forums, we want to make sure you have the facts," it added.
In being 'benign', the tumors experienced by the five members of staff are not cancerous.
Such tumors are described as a 'noncancerous collection of cells' which are 'slow-growing' and don't spread to other areas of the body.
While these tumors don't cause symptoms, 'a large benign tumor may press on nearby tissue and organs', and treatment uses surgery to remove it, Cleveland Clinic explains.
Emily Brown