Cancer and the Environment
Posted 3/11/2012
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This is a recent email that I received from Silent Spring. You may have already heard about their new report, but, if not, this is well worth a read.
Dear Friends,
We wanted to be sure you heard about our recent study that is getting a lot of attention for revealing hidden dangers in everyday consumer products.
Our peer-reviewed study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, shows that an alarming number of chemicals of concern are found in a broad range of household and personal care products. All 42 of the conventional product types and even the majority of "green" products we tested contained our target chemicals. And many of the chemicals of concern aren't listed on the labels. In fact, we found 7 unlabeled target chemicals in the "green" sunscreens.
But the news isn't all bad. We also found products with no or relatively low levels of the chemicals. And using our results, we put together a few steps we all can take to reduce exposures:
Use fewer products
Read labels to avoid antibacterials (triclosan and triclocarban) and fragranced products
Use simple soap and water for cleaning
Exercise caution with products applied directly to the skin, since they can penetrate into the body
Check www.silentspring.org/take-national-action for ideas about how to take action to improve chemicals safety testing and product labeling.
For nearly 20 years Silent Spring Institute has conducted research to advance the prevention of breast cancer. This study marks a big step forward in our mission. We now know more about where chemicals of concern are coming from and why they show up in our bodies-even in newborns and in breast milk.
You may have already seen the news coverage of our study, including in U.S.News & World Report andForbes. NPR's Marketplace highlights how our study can advance green chemistry solutions. For more media links and additional information, please visit our website at www.silentspring.org/product-test.
Research Director Ruthann Rudel and I are scheduled to be on NPR's On Point next Tuesday, March 13, to talk about the study. Perhaps you can tune in or call in!
We wouldn't have been able to make this major scientific contribution without the support of our friends. Thank you for believing in our mission and encouraging our work.
We're making real progress in understanding the link between the environment and breast cancer. With your help, we're able to provide more answers and more hope.
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