The statistics show an alarming trend. According to the National Cancer Institute, 1 in 8 women get breast cancer in their lifetimes, up from 1 in 20 just 40 years ago. Research continues to connect environmental exposures to chemicals to breast cancer risk.
Our exposures come from all over—our personal care products, cleaning products, food, air and water. Certain chemicals, called endocrine disruptors because they disrupt our hormones, are used in personal care products as preservatives that extend the shelf life of products, the lining of canned goods, on receipts, in plastics, in fragrances, in the coating of non-stick pans, the list goes on, and they can have health consequences over time. The Breast Cancer Fund, a non-profit focused on exposing and eliminating the environmental causes of cancer, has a comprehensive list of some of the most prevalent chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis and how to avoid them.
Small changes can make a difference! Buy fresh or frozen produce as opposed to canned goods, look for fragrance free products that are paraben and phthalate free, buy organic food whenever possible, use baking soda and vinegar instead of toxic chemicals to clean your house, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. For more tips to reduce your risk, visit The Breast Cancer Fund’s website.
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