From: nlns@igc.apc.org (New Liberation News Service)
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Subject: Chlorine Linked to Breast Cancer
Date: 16 Nov 92 02:53:26 GMT
Article-I.D.: mont.1992Nov16.025326.10794
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Organization: ?
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu

/* Written 12:10 pm  Nov 14, 1992 by labornet@igc.apc.org in igc:labor.hazards */
/* ---------- "Chlorine Linked to Breast Cancer" ---------- */
From:  "Progressive Economists Network"
To:  bitl.pen

GREENPEACE REPORT LINKS CHLORINE COMPOUNDS TO BREAST
CANCER

OTTAWA -- There is growing scientific evidence that
chemical pollutants, especially chlorine-related
compounds, are an important factor in rising breast
cancer rates, according to a report by Greenpeace.
  That conclusion flies in the face of conventional
wisdom in the medical community which has long held
that environmental factors play an insignificant role
in causing cancer.
  The study, prepared by Greenpeace researcher Joe
Thornton with help from two US scientists, is based
on government reports and on studies which have
appeared in recognized scientific journals in recent
years.  It concludes that the rising incidence of
breast cancer follows a trend of increasing
contamination of food, water and air by synthetic
chemicals.
  "Identified risk factors for breast cancer --
heredity, hormonal factors and diet -- account for
less than half of all breast cancer incidence,"
according to the study.
  Federal figures show that breast cancer rates have
risen steadily for years.  In Canada, breast cancer
is expected to account for 28 per cent of new female
cancer cases in 1992.
  "I have been instrumental in developing the
Greenpeace position; I have reviewed it carefully and
in general this reflects sound science," say Samuel
Epstein, of the University of Illinois Medical Centre
in Chicago.  The study was also reviewed by Mary
Wolff, a researcher at the Mt. Sinai Medical Centre
in New York.
  Key findings of the study include:

  --US counties with waste sites were 6.5 times more
     likely to have elevated breast cancer rates than
     counties without waste sites.

  --Women with breast cancer tend to have higher
     levels of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in
     their tissue than women without breast cancer.

  --Women working in industries with elevated
     chemical exposures have high rates of breast
     cancer.

  --Chlorinated chemicals, including PCBs, have been
     found in fat and breast milk of Canadian women.

  --Breast cancer rates in Israel dropped 30 per
     cent following an aggressive program to phase
     out use of organochlorine pesticides.

  Geoffrey Howe, director of epidemiology at the
National Cancer Institute in Toronto expressed
skepticism about the link between breast cancer and
pollution.
  "In general, epidemiologists do not consider there
is strong evidence for this type of relationship," he
said.  "(But) we don't have an explanation for it, I
agree with that."
  Research scientist Wolff believes that the possible
link between breast cancer and pollution deserves
more study.
  Greenpeace representative Jay Palter says that the
results of the study support his organization's
campaign for a complete phase-out of chlorine
products in Canada.

                      -- Canadian Press
Xref: sparky misc.activism.progressive:8543 alt.activism:19008 sci.energy:5606 talk.environment:4670