by: Breast Cancer Action (www.breastcanceraction.org / 877.278.6722)

The links between Breast Cancer and the Environment:

• 70% of the people with breast cancer have none of the known risk factors.
  The so-called known risk factors, like late menopause, having children late in life, and family history are present in only 30% of breast cancer cases.
• Non-industrialized countries have lower breast cancer rates than industrialized countries..
  Breast cancer rates are highest in North America and northern Europe and lowest in Asia and Africa.
• People who move to industrialized countries from countries with low rates develop the breast cancer rates of the industrialized country..
  For example, Japan has a lower rate of breast cancer than the United States. Japanese women who move to the United States have increased breast cancer rates (and their daughters even more so) that approach those of U.S.-born women.

What we know:

• Estrogen stimulates breast cell growth..
  Excess amounts of estrogen are thought to contribute to breast cancer risk. Some chemicals, such as the pesticide dieldrin, organochlorines, and certain plastics additives, act like estrogen in the body.
• Production and use of harmful chemicals are on the rise..
  Of an estimated 85,000 synthetic chemicals in commercial use today, more than 90% have never been tested for their effects on human health. Meanwhile, production of these chemicals is rising at least 3.3% per year. Use of carcinogenic pesticides in California rose 127% between 1991 and 1998.
• Ionizing radiation is a proven cause of breast cancer..
  The effect of exposures to low levels of radiation can build up in the body and do harm. This does not mean that you should never get another x-ray, but you should be mindful of your exposure to radiation.

What can be done:

• Take a "better safe than sorry" approach..
  We, as a society and as individuals, must adopt a precautionary principle approach to public health—acting to reduce our exposure to known and suspected carcinogens now based on the weight of evidence indicating that they are harmful to our health.
• Companies must be made accountable for the products they make..
  Rather than waiting until a product is proven to be harmful, companies that produce (and profit from) chemicals should be required to prove that they are safe before they can market them.
• Research into environmental links to diseases should be a priority..
  In order to stop cancer where it starts, we need to spend as much time and money researching causes as we spend looking for cures.

What else can you do? Keep reading…the next few pages will take you though some simple things you can do today to reduce your exposure.

For more information, please visit the following websites: