June 22, 2011
By Emily Main
A slew of common chemicals have been linked to breast cancer and other problems, and even more are suspected of causing problems, a new review of the research has found.
Excerpt: The chemicals we come into contact with every day could affect a woman's ability to breastfeed, concludes a review of research published today in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The review was compiled by a panel of 18 toxicologists, epidemiologists, public health advocates who met back in November 2009 to analyze the existing research on environmental chemicals and breast development and breast cancer. "We know that factors early in life, during puberty, and during pregnancy have a big impact on breast cancer rates," says Ruthann Rudel, lead author of the review and director of research at the nonprofit Silent Spring Institute, which studies how environmental influences can affect breast cancer. "And we know there is a diverse array of chemicals that are doing this."