Inside Prevention

Study: BPA, methylparaben block breast cancer drugs (San Francisco Chronicle, 9/13/2011)

For years, the Breast Cancer Fund has advocated to eliminate BPA (in hard plastics and can linings) and parabens (in cosmetics) from consumer products because of their links to breast cancer risk. Now we have new evidence that BPA and methylparaben not only spur normal human breast cells to behave like cancer cells, they also resist the cancer-inhibiting effects of the drug tamoxifen.

Our CEO Jeanne Rizzo spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle about this new research from California Pacific Medical Center:

Jeanne Rizzo, chief executive officer of the Breast Cancer Fund, a San Francisco advocacy group, said the study shows that BPA and methylparaben have a triggering effect when it comes to cancer. The next step, she said, has to be for consumers to demand changes that reduce environmental exposure to these chemicals.

A bill sitting on the governor's desk would ban BPA in sippy cups and baby bottles manufactured or sold in California. AB1319 was authored by Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, D-Los Angeles.

This research is sharp warning to consumer, legislators, manufacturers and researchers alike. As the Chronicle article explains:

Since most breast cancers are driven by the hormone estrogen, the bulk of the drugs used to treat breast cancer are designed to knock down estrogen. BPA and methylparaben not only mimic estrogen's ability to drive cancer, but appear to be even better than the natural hormone in bypassing the ability of drugs to treat it, [lead researcher Dr. William] Goodson said. (Read complete article.)

Triclosan: Is Bath & Body Works' new soap harmful to teens? (LA Times Greenspace blog, 7/18/2011)

Triclosan is an antimicrobial chemical used in many antibacterial cosmetics and other consumer products. It's also classified as a pesticide by the EPA, and it disrupts hormones (and thus is an emerging chemical of concern for breast cancer), yet it's no more effective than plain soap and water. That's why the Breast Cancer Fund's Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is targeting Bath & Body Works for the company's use of triclosan in hand soaps marketed to teens, as reported by the LA Times Greenspace blog:

Health and environmental groups have mounted a campaign against Bath & Body Works, urging the retailer to stop selling its line of “Summertime Scent” soaps that contain triclosan, a chemical categorized as a pesticide.

Scientific studies have linked triclosan to hormone disruption, which could be hazardous to teenagers whose bodies are still developing.

"A chemical like triclosan that can disrupt hormones and may affect fetal growth and development does not belong in our soap," said Lisa Archer, director of the San Francisco-based Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund. "Studies show that triclosan is no more effective at preventing illness or removing germs than soap and water."

The line, which includes products with names like "Tangelo Orange Twist" and "Sugar Lemon Fizz," is marketed to teenagers using the slogan "spread love, not germs."

According to the Breast Cancer Fund, major companies, including Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, The Body Shop, and Staples, are either no longer using the chemical or are phasing it out of products. Colgate-Palmolive has eliminated triclosan from its dishwashing liquids and Softsoap hand soaps, but continues to use the chemical in Total brand toothpaste. (Read complete post.)

New and improved Safe Cosmetics Act could boost green chemistry (Forbes, 6/27/2011)

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011, federal legislation strongly supported by the Breast Cancer Fund and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (a project of ours), was introduced in the U.S. House on Friday, June 24, 2011.

This is excellent news for consumers left scratching their heads about which shampoo to buy; many cosmetics contain harmful chemicals, a legal practice under current law. But as a new piece on Forbes' blog points out, it's also a boon for cosmetics companies that want to make safe, healthy products but don't currently get all the information they need from ingredient suppliers.

The Breast Cancer Fund's Program and Policy Director Janet Nudelman explains some of the benefits for small businesses, including supplier transparency:

Nudelman says other companies are pleased with this part of the Act as well. "We call this the Producer Right-to-Know, and the companies we're working with are quite pleased with it," she says. "We always talk about consumers' right-to-know, but producers have a right to know as well—they are the ones that will be held liable if a harmful ingredient sneaks into their product." (Read complete article.)

Quit the pesticide man (Huffington Post, 1/5/2011)

The "Dirt Diva" herself, Annie Spiegelman, has a great recommendation for your new year: ditch the pesticides. That includes household weed killers, chemical fertilizers, rat poison, ant traps, cockroach killer...all that stuff designed to kill other living things is likely not so good for you.

She wrote a piece on the Huffington Post this week featuring our Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) colleague Kristin Schafer, and together they do a great job weaving strawberry pesticides, breast cancer (and our State of the Evidence report), the problem with the EPA, safe cosmetics and being a Debbie Downer into something that you really do want to read:

Annie: Recent scientific studies show that the weedkiller atrazine changes the sex of male frogs. The pesticide methyl iodide, which is a known neurotoxin (nerve poison), will now be legal to fumigate onto California strawberry fields. American beekeepers believe the pesticide clothianidin, with a soil half-life of up to 19 years in heavy soils, is taking away their livelihoods. The latest President's Cancer Panel report on carcinogens in our environment is especially gloomy. Should we all just go hide under the covers?

Kristin: No. The more we know, the smarter choices we can all make. For the first time ever, the President's Cancer Panel analyzed the contribution carcinogens in our environment play in causing cancer. The Bush-appointed cancer scientists on the Panel found that the importance of these chemicals has been dramatically underestimated. They were so concerned that they actually recommended President Obama do something: get toxic chemicals that cause cancer out of our food, water and air. (Read complete article.)

Breast Cancer Fund chief's balanced wisdom (Practically Green, 11/30/2010)

Practically Green interviewed Breast Cancer Fund President and CEO Jeanne Rizzo for practical prevention advice:

It’s easy to get alarmed and overwhelmed about all the possible toxins that might lurk in supposedly safe products these days, from shampoo to bed mattresses, from berries to wall paint. We found a seriously experienced public-health advocate for advice on how a normal person gets a handle on this.

Jeanne Rizzo is the President and CEO of the Breast Cancer Fund, a leader in disease prevention and strategic policy initiatives....

Read the whole post and pass it on!

Formaldehyde prompts Brazilian Blowout recall effort, Calif. AG lawsuit

Those smooth, straight locks promised by expensive salon applications of a product called Brazilian Blowout sound like a dream come true for many women. In actuality, Brazilian Blowout products recently tested by Oregon OSHA and Health Canada were as much as 8 to 12 percent formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. While we don't have evidence of a breast cancer connection, formaldehyde is linked to leukemia, lung cancer, nasal cancer, asthma, miscarriage and other serious or life-threatening health problems. Even the cosmetics industry's own safety panel recommends formaldehyde concentration in cosmetics not to exceed 0.2 percent.

Though the governments of Canada and Ireland were quick to act on the Brazilian Blowout tests, the U.S. FDA hasn't done a thing. On Tuesday our Campaign for Safe Cosmetics launched a public effort to convince the FDA to issue a voluntary recall (the agency can't issue a mandatory recall under current law) of Brazilian Blowout products.

And yesterday the California Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit against California-based Brazilian Blowout for violating Prop. 65 and falsely claiming its products to be "safe" and even labeling some "formaldehyde free."

According to California Watch, the lawsuit also "marks the first time the state has sued to enforce reporting requirements under its safe cosmetics law, a novel system requiring cosmetics makers to submit reports about harmful chemicals."

That "novel" law was the California Safe Cosmetics Act of 2005, the Breast Cancer Fund's first major victory in our work for safe cosmetics. Today we're cheering that the law that we - and you - helped pass is, in turn, helping California protect its citizens.

Now, five years later, we have our sights set on passing the federal Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, which will protect all Americans from toxic products like Brazilian Blowout. In the meantime, join our recall effort!

Jeanne Rizzo to speak at TEDx - watch live this Saturday!

On Saturday, November 6, Breast Cancer Fund President and CEO Jeanne Rizzo will speak at a very special TEDx event on plastic pollution. Jeanne, who will talk about plastic and its connections to breast cancer, will be among other prominent thought leaders, innovators and artists who will share what they know, explore solutions and present plans for action.

The event will be broadcast live on the TEDx Web site from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Pacific Time. Jeanne's talk will occur during the Plastic Pollution and Public Health segment from 11:10 to 11:55 a.m., along with talks by Arlene Blum, Ken Cook and Stacy Malkan. Bring friends together and join in this historic event by hosting a watch party!

Ask Umbra addresses environmental links to breast cancer (Grist.org, 11/1/2010)

October may be over, but breast cancer prevention is a year-round affair at the Breast Cancer Fund. A reader writes to Ask Umbra in today's Grist asking about breast cancer prevention, and she points him to the Breast Cancer Fund, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (also a Breast Cancer Fund project) and our friends at Silent Spring Institute:

Many of the chemicals we’re exposed to have only been around since World War II. According to the Centers for Disease Control, "less than two percent of chemicals on the market have actually been tested for carcinogenicity."

It’s as if a kid held back in 5th grade for over 60 years is doing a science fair project and we’re all the unfortunate subjects.

Don't miss Ask Umbra's Best for the Breasts List, inspired by our collective work. (Read complete article.)

Taking stock of toxic beauty products (Montreal Gazette, 10/18/2010)

One woman sets out to clear the toxic chemicals from her bathroom on the occasion of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and armed with our new State of the Evidence report. From today's Montreal Gazette:

For years I've been reading studies about this or that ingredient being linked to breast cancer, and it's been a growing worry.

But I've just read a report by The Breast Cancer Fund that has shaken me up enough to prompt this showdown, and inspired me to turn over a new leaf when it comes to choosing cosmetics for myself, and especially for my kids.

The report, called State of the Evidence: The Connection between Breast Cancer and the Environment, is the sixth edition of an increasingly alarming annual roundup of research on environmental causes of breast cancer. (Read complete article.)

Week Two: Breast Cancer Prevention Month

The release of our latest edition of State of the Evidence launched a month-long campaign to move the breast cancer conversation in October beyond awareness and to prevention. Through our online communities on Facebook and Twitter, we’re posting the latest themes in the emerging science linking breast cancer and exposures, tips for reducing your risk, action opportunities and things you can share with family and friends to spread the word.

In week two of Breast Cancer Prevention Month, we focused on the reality that the chemicals in our everyday products are not just affecting our health-–they’re also making their way, by way of us, into the environment. It gives the phrase, "what we put in and on our body matters," new meaning.

Science Monday
Without realizing it, we're often exposing ourselves and our planet to hormone-disrupting chemicals found in our pharmaceuticals and other everyday products, including cosmetics. After making their way through us, or down the drain, these chemicals are not fully removed in the water treatment process and can end up back in our tap water.

Tips Tuesday
Because what you put in and on your body matters, check out our tips for choosing safe cosmetics that reduce the risk of breast cancer and the impact on our planet.

Action Wednesday
Jeanne Rizzo, president and CEO of the Breast Cancer Fund, wrote a blog post featured on Huffington Post this week, calling for national attention toward stopping breast cancer before it starts. After reading the post, please take action by adding your comments and sharing with friends on Facebook and Twitter. 

Share Thursday
Educate your family and friends on the risk of chemicals to our bodies and environment by sharing the The Story of Cosmetics: The Ugly Truth of 'Toxics In. Toxics Out' from our friends at The Story of Stuff Project! It’s a fun video with a very important message.

If you'd like to continue your support for the Breast Cancer Fund, please check out ways you can contribute to prevention, including donating to our State of the Evidence Fund to support its distribution or shopping with one of our many prevention partners.

Thank you again for helping us keep the momentum to move beyond awareness this October!