Researchers Identify 216 Chemicals That Induce Breast Tumors In Animal Tests, Create Database

A research team from five institutions, with funding from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, have identified 216 chemicals that induced breast cancer tumors in animal tests and have compiled the information into a new database, the Los Angeles Times reports. The researchers -- assembled from Silent Springs Institute, a women's environmental health institute in Newton, Mass.; Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School; the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y.; and Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California -- compiled and reviewed hundreds of existing studies and databases to create "the most comprehensive compilation to date of chemicals identified as mammary carcinogens," the Times reports.

The researchers found that of those chemicals, people are highly exposed to 97, including a chemical in chlorinated drinking water, cosmetic ingredients, dyes, hormones, industrial solvents, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, radiation, and gasoline and diesel exhaust compounds. According to the researchers, 29 of the chemicals are produced in volumes exceeding one million pounds annually in the U.S., and 73 are found in consumer products (Cone, Los Angeles Times, 5/15).

The research team also found that reduction in alcohol consumption, lifelong physical activity and avoiding being overweight after menopause lowers breast cancer risk, the Dallas Morning News reports (Ambrose, Dallas Morning News, 5/14).

Cancer Supplemental, Reaction
"Overall, exposure to mammary gland carcinogens is widespread," the researchers wrote in a supplemental published on Monday in the online edition of the journal Cancer. They added that the data were too incomplete to estimate how many breast cancer cases might be linked to chemical exposure, but because the disease is so common and the chemicals so widespread, "the public health impacts of reducing exposures would be profound even if the true relative risks are modest."

Ana Soto -- a Tufts University professor of cell biology, who was not involved with the studies -- said there likely is a link between chemical exposure and breast cancer development. "I cannot say I'm convinced, but what I can say is that it's a very likely, very plausible hypothesis," Soto said, adding, "More and more, cancer looks like an environmental disease" (Los Angeles Times, 5/15).

Julia Brody, an epidemiologist and environmental researcher who led the project, said the new database "represents an enormous step for an influential organization like Komen to take this on." She added, "Over the years, the primary focus in cancer research has been on diagnosis and treatment. But there's been relatively little focus on prevention" (Dallas Morning News, 5/14).


The database and supplemental are available online.

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.