New Research Links Nearly 1,000 Chemicals to Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

New Research Links Nearly 1,000 Chemicals to Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

A new study published by Silent Spring Institute, a Massachusetts nonprofit centered on women’s health, in the journal of Environmental Health Perspectives has identified at least 921 chemicals that show evidence of increasing breast cancer risk. The research included analysis of data on rodent tumors, along with genotoxicity and endocrine activity markers to identify cancer-causing agents.

The list includes 279 chemicals previously identified as causing mammary tumors in animals, along with 642 additional chemicals known to alter the body’s hormone profiles by stimulating cells to increase the production of estrogen or progesterone, a phenomenon that has also been associated with an increased risk for developing breast cancer.

Alarmingly, Silent Spring provides that 90 percent of these identified chemicals are currently found in processed food and drinks, pesticides, medications, and other consumer products.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports approximately 240,000 breast cancer diagnoses and 42,000 breast cancer deaths in women in the United States annually. Additionally, about 2,100 U.S. men are annually diagnosed with breast cancer as well. Among women, breast cancer diagnoses each year in the U.S. are second only to skin cancer diagnoses.

This latest research will hopefully guide regulatory priorities, product formulations, and consumer warnings to help reduce exposure. You can learn more about these chemicals in the study here. If you believe you have developed breast cancer as a result of significant exposure to these chemicals, you should contact an experienced law firm right away to explore your rights.