Environmental Estrogens and Breast Cancer Introduction n n
Environmental Estrogens and Breast Cancer
Introduction n n Breast Cancer is most prevalent cancer worldwide 1% increase every year for last decade Aggregate economic cost estimated at $3. 8 billion per year Tremendous personal costs
Topics of Discussion n The increase in breast cancer has been directly proportional to the industrialization of our society. Most evidence links prolonged exposure to estrogens to likelihood of this cancer. Only small percentage, despite media focus, is genetic
n n n ARE THERE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS WHICH HAVE THE SAME EFFECT ON THE BODY AS ESTROGENS? Topic One E-SCREEN ASSAY: LIST OF ESTROGENIC COMPOUNDS; XENOESTROGENS
n 5 CAPE COD TOWNS: Topic Two 1983 -1986 n ASSESSED OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE, AND CONNECTION TO INCIDENCE OF BREAST CANCER n
XENOESTROGENIC CHEMICALS n n n n DDT DDE METHOXYCHLOR NONLYPHENOL BUTYL BENZYL PHTHALATE BHA BISPHENOL A n n n NURSES FOOD HANDLERS ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS
n ONLY PCB’S AND 4 -OCTYLPHENOL ACTUALLY INCREASED BREAST CANCER LIKELIHOOD n EQUIVOCAL RESULTS n FLAWS IN STUDY: u OTHER ESTROGENIC EXPOSURES: EVERYDAY SUBSTANCES SUCH AS DETERGENTS, PESTICIDES, PLASICS u INTERVIEWERS FALLIBLE
Only Dieldrin increased riskn n Danish study re organochlorines: DDT, chlordane, lindane, dieldrin, and industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls. n n Incidence 2 x in Denmark, vs. 30 years ago. 14% of female pop.
n n DIFFICULT TO PIN DOWN IN STUDIES THUSFAR CONTRA STUDIES: MEXICAN STUDY SHOWED NO CONNECTION RE DDT SOME TYPES OF XENOESTROGENS, FOUND IN PLANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, ACTUALLY THOUGHT TO REDUCE CANCER RISK DEVRA LEE DAVIS OF WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE: “BAD”ESTROGENS, NEED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH-
Cancer Establisment; n Conflicts of Interest: n Astra. Zeneca n American Cancer Society n GE
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