Silent Spring - Breast Cancer Chemicals
Mammary Carcinogens Review Database
Silent Spring Institute conducted a comprehensive review of chemicals associated with breast cancer and compiled a Science Review database that includes information on over 200 chemicals that increased mammary gland tumors in animal studies conducted by the US National Toxicology Program (NTP) or included in the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs, 11th Report on Carcinogens (11th ROC), Carcinogenic Potency Database (CPDB), or Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System (CCRIS) database. For each chemical, the database includes:
- carcinogenic potential
- ability to cause gene mutations
- exposure in the general population and for women at work
- other characteristics of chemical use, sources, and regulation
Summary assessments of the carcinogenic potential for each chemical and potentially exposed populations were also compiled. In all, 216 chemicals were identified that have been associated with increases in mammary gland tumors in at least 1 study. These include industrial chemicals, chlorinated solvents, products of combustion, pesticides, dyes, radiation, drinking water disinfection byproducts, pharmaceuticals and hormones, natural products, and research chemicals. Twenty-nine are produced in the U.S. at 1 million pounds/year; 35 are air pollutants, 25 have involved occupational exposures to 5000 women, and 73 have been present in consumer products or as contaminants of food. Thus, exposure is widespread. Nearly all of the chemicals were mutagenic and most caused tumors in multiple organs and species; these characteristics are generally believed to indicate likely carcinogenicity in humans. This appears to be the most comprehensive list developed of animal mammary gland carcinogens.
Paper describing the database is at http://coeh.berkeley.edu/greenchemistry/cbcrpdocs/Rudel_2007.pdf
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