Report finds half of breast cancer causes
may be environmental

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Women in the United States still have a high risk of breast cancer even if they have no genetic predisposition or other commonly accepted risk factors for the disease, according to a report released today.

"State of the Evidence 2006: What Is the Connection Between the Environment and Breast Cancer?" (SOE) reports that as many as 50 percent of breast cancer cases remain unexplained by either genetics or lifestyle factors, such as a woman's age at her first full-term pregnancy or alcohol consumption. The report is available online at http://www.bcaction.org/SOE or http://www.breastcancerfund.org.

Instead, the report says, "compelling scientific evidence points to some of the 100,000 synthetic chemicals in use today as contributing to the development of breast cancer, either by altering hormone function or gene expression."

SOE, which reviews and analyzes nearly 350 scientific studies on environmental links to breast cancer, was jointly published by Breast Cancer Fund (BCF) and Breast Cancer Action (BCA). The report was peer-reviewed by leading U.S. scientists. This fourth edition reports findings from more than 46 new studies published during 2004 and 2005.

In 2005, breast cancer was expected to kill more than 40,000 women in the United States-one death every 13 minutes-and more than 410,000 women worldwide. U.S. women now have a one in seven chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetimes, a risk that has nearly tripled in the past four decades.

"Many factors that contribute to the disease lie far beyond a woman's personal control and can only be addressed by a revolution in thinking on the parts of government and the private sector," said Jeanne Rizzo, BCF executive director.

"Women living with and at risk for breast cancer need public policies that will put our health first and protect us from exposures to toxic chemicals," said Lisa Wanzor, BCA acting executive director.

The report offers a 10-point plan to reduce the risk of breast cancer and ultimately end the epidemic. Among those recommendations:

-- Establish environmental health tracking programs to monitor toxic exposures at state and federal levels;

-- Protect workers from hazardous exposures;

-- Hold corporations accountable for hazardous practices and offer local, state and federal incentives for clean, green practices.