Breast Cancer Chemicals

Over 200 chemicals, many of which are present in common household products, have been shown to cause breast cancer in animals. This report, published in a journal of the American Cancer Society in the spring of 2007, after researchers compiled hundreds of studies, lists 73 chemicals commonly found in food and household products that are associated with the development of cancer.

We know that 90 percent of breast cancer cases have an environmental component, and that avoiding mammary carcinogens could potentially make a significant difference in its occurrence.

Responding to this information, the Susan G. Komen For The Cure pledged 5 million dollars to seek out environmental causes. Of these chemicals:

- 63 are found in common household products

- 10 are food additives

- 47 are pharmaceuticals

- 17 are hormones

- 10 are pesticides

- 18 are dyes

- 35 are air pollutants

The report can be found at www.silentspring.org/sciencereview, or www.komen.org/environment.

So, what do we do to protect ourselves? For those who do not read chemistry textbooks as a leisure activity, we compiled a list of some products containing the carcinogens listed, as well as probable carcinogens for other types of cancer, along with solutions or alternatives. Some carcinogens, such as indoor air pollutants, are hard to avoid. If you hesitate to remove all carpet, upholstery and pressed wood products from your home, purchase a few houseplants. NASA has found many common houseplants effective in absorbing indoor air carcinogens.

Product

Chemical Carcinogens

Solutions/Alternatives

Chlorinated water

Chlorine, many others

Purchase a water filter

Purchase a shower filter

(we recommend a filter for all sources of water)

Shampoo, detergents, soaps

1,4-dioxane

Natural products

(check you local health food store)

Cosmetics

Phthalates, parabens

Look for phthalate free natural products

Auto exhaust

PAH’s, benzene, others

Keep your windows rolled up

Sit in your car while fueling

Never hold the pump to add a few extra pennies to your tank

Dry cleaning solvents

Perc

Clean your clothes at home, or find a wet cleaner or liquid CO2 cleaner

Nonstick cookware

Perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA)

Use stainless steel, glass, or ceramic-coated pans

Starchy foods, french fries

Acrylamide

See FDA website for Data On Acrylamide Concentration in Foods, and evaluate your diet

Air fresheners, cleaning products, shampoo

Formaldehyde

Choose eco-friendly alternatives, open windows

Wood stripper

Methylene chloride

Use a fume mask

Furniture polish

Several

Plain olive oil

Pesticides

Several

Avoid home and garden pesticides, use organic equivalents

Nail polish

Dibutyl phthalate, benzyl violet (violet 2, violet 6B)

Go natural, especially if pregnant

Flame retardants

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s)

Avoid products treated with PBDE

Soft squeeze children’s toys

(bath toys etc)

Plastic food wrap

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC’s)

Wax paper, childrens toys without PVC’s

Food packaging

1,4-dioxane, acrylamide, others

Avoid processed food, shop the periphery of the grocery store

Shoe polish

Nitrobenzene, orange 3, red 49

Look for natural alternatives

Overheated oil (eg. Canola)

1,3-butadine

Do not overheat oil, do not re-use oil, avoid friend foods when eating out

Cat litter

Crystalline silica

Choose litter without crystalline silica

This table is a work in progress. Expect additional carcinogens to be added daily.

Remember, only 2% of carcinogens used in commerce have been tested for carcinogenicity. Therefore always use good ventilation, wear gloves, wear a mask when advised per package directions, and choose eco-friendly products whenever possible.

Product	Chemical Carcinogens	Solutions/Alternatives
Chlorinated water	Chlorine, many others	Purchase a water filter Purchase a shower filter (we recommend a filter for all sources of water)
Shampoo, detergents, soaps	1,4-dioxane	Natural products (check you local health food store)
Cosmetics	Phthalates, parabens	Look for phthalate free natural products
Auto exhaust	PAH’s, benzene, others	Keep your windows rolled up Sit in your car while fueling Never hold the pump to add a few extra pennies to your tank
Dry cleaning solvents	Perc	Clean your clothes at home, or find a wet cleaner or liquid CO2 cleaner
Nonstick cookware	Perfluoroctanoic acid (PFOA)	Use stainless steel, glass, or ceramic-coated pans
Starchy foods, french fries	Acrylamide	See FDA website for Data On Acrylamide Concentration in Foods, and evaluate your diet
Air fresheners, cleaning products, shampoo	Formaldehyde	Choose eco-friendly alternatives, open windows
Wood stripper	Methylene chloride	Use a fume mask
Furniture polish	Several	Plain olive oil
Pesticides	Several	Avoid home and garden pesticides, use organic equivalents
Nail polish	Dibutyl phthalate, benzyl violet (violet 2, violet 6B)	Go natural, especially if pregnant
Flame retardants	Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE’s)	Avoid products treated with PBDE
Soft squeeze children’s toys (bath toys etc) Plastic food wrap	Polyvinyl chloride (PVC’s)	Wax paper, childrens toys without PVC’s
Food packaging	1,4-dioxane, acrylamide, others	Avoid processed food, shop the periphery of the grocery store
Shoe polish	Nitrobenzene, orange 3, red 49	Look for natural alternatives
Overheated oil (eg. Canola)	1,3-butadine	Do not overheat oil, do not re-use oil, avoid friend foods when eating out
Cat litter	Crystalline silica	Choose litter without crystalline silica