Women ‘at cancer risk due to man-made chemicals in every home’

LONDON - The surge in rates of breast cancer is due to the increased use of man-made chemicals that are found in every home, experts have warned.

The chemicals are used in everyday foods, cosmetics, household products, plastic and even medical treatments.

The new report has suggested that as many as one in eight women is at risk of contracting breast cancer-a dramatic increase since the 1930s when the first reliable cancer figures were recorded.

The report, by the Breast Cancer Fund, focuses on the unwitting exposure of women to the synthetic household chemicals.

“A substantial body of scientific evidence indicates that exposures to common chemicals and radiation contribute to the unacceptably high incidence of breast cancer,” the Daily Express quoted the report’s lead author Janet Gray of the Vassar College, New York as saying.

The research investigated all the scientific data on how breast cancer risk is increased by exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals, carcinogens and radiation.

Gwynne Lyons of the Chemicals, Health and Environment Monitoring Trust said: “Consumers have no idea about the nasty chemicals they are exposed to in products such as cosmetics, cleaning products, food packaging and DIY goods.

“Yet more and more scientists are raising the alarm and reporting numerous studies suggesting that some of these chemicals are involved in breast cancer.

“Of particular concern are chemicals in everyday use which can disrupt our hormones.”

But Ed Yong, of the Cancer Research said: “The evidence that harmful chemicals and pollution are linked to breast cancer is still unclear.

“The risk of breast cancer is most strongly linked to age.” (ANI)