Toxic Nation | Pollution. It's In You.

The fifth edition of the State of the Evidencereport from the Breast Cancer Fund was just released. It finds that exposure over time to synthetic chemicals, such as hormone and endocrine-disruptors, found in plastics, cosmetics, cleaning products, food, and other consumer products, increase the risk of breast cancer. Other sources and factors, such as occupational exposures to hazardous chemicals are also identified as playing a role in breast cancer. Another sign that environmental factors influence breast cancer is that no more than 10% of women who have breast cancer have a genetic history of the disease.

Another study released this month by the Health and Environment Alliance, the Centre for Toxicology at the University of London, and CHEM Trust UK urges women to avoid exposure to chemicals in their lives to decrease their risk of breast cancer. Breast Cancer and Exposure to Hormonally Active Chemicals: An appraisal of the scientific evidence was presented to the European Parliament by Prof. Andreas Kortenkamp as proof that the EU needs to regulate hormonally active chemicals.

Breast cancer affects more than one million women around the world each year. The highest documented rates are in industrialized countries like Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

Read more

“Avoiding chemical exposure ‘only way to halt breast cancer’” April 4, 2008

“Scientists deliver wake-up call: Reduce chemical exposure to reduce breast cancer” April 2, 2008

Chemical Health Monitor

Cassandra