http://www.kron.com/Global/story.asp?S=2402708

BAY AREA (KRON) -- A new report could help shed some light on the dramatic rise in breast cancer in the U.S. The study, by the Breast Cancer Fund and Breast Cancer Action, says exposure to synthetic chemicals, pesticides and radiation may be partly to blame.

Every 13 minutes in the U.S. a woman dies from breast cancer. Only about 10% of those deaths can be attributed to genetic causes. In around 50% of cases there are no known risk factors to cause the disease.

Now this latest study, entitled "The State Of The Evidence 2004," says the answer may be all around us.

Jeanne Rizzo, executive director of the Breast Cancer Fund, says, "There are 85,000 chemicals registered for use in the United States. Less than 10% of them have been tested for their impact on health and the environment."

Rizzo says women are exposed to toxic chemicals every day of their lives, at home, at work, in the water they drink, the air they breathe. "Overall we found chlorinated chemicals, radiation, hormone disrupters, hormones, anything that acts like a hormone, xeno estrogens, we found those contributing to breast cancer," she says. 

The report brings together evidence from 21 studies linking the health of our environment to our own health.

The researchers say many synthetic chemicals have an effect on the body similar to estrogen, a hormone known to fuel breast cancer growth.

They say their report is a wake-up call, to get the government to rethink the process that lets so many untested chemicals on the market. It's also a wake-up call for women telling them they can take action now to reduce their risk. They can think twice about exposing themselves to such things as radiation or MRI's that are not medically necessary. And they can use the power of their pocket book.

"Well, you can make a decision," Rizzo says. "Do you want to buy a nail polish or a deodorant or a lotion that has a known carcinogen in it?"

The report calls on the government to phase out all chemicals known to cause cancer or genetic damage. It also calls for more studies to monitor the presence of chemicals in people, so we know exactly what health risks they may pose.