Read Online Whole-Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors by Edward Bauman - Free Book Online Page A

pesticide exposure have been acknowledged for decades, although in this century the research has dramatically accelerated, in part because the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other organizations have embraced the practice of biomonitoring . According to the CDC (2009), this technology allows scientists to test the concentration of contaminants in people’s blood and urine in a more direct way than ever before. More than a decade ago, some pioneering Danish researchers used biomonitoring to verify that the risk of breast cancer was notably higher in women with high levels of the pesticide dieldrin (Høyer et al. 1998). Dozens of other studies have been published with similar findings. In fact, in June 2007, the journal Cancer devoted an entire supplemental issue to “Environmental Factors in Breast Cancer,” stating (Brody et al.): “Laboratory research has shown that numerous environmental pollutants cause mammary gland tumors in animals; are hormonally active, specifically mimicking estrogen, which is a breast cancer risk factor; or affect susceptibility of the mammary gland to carcinogenesis.” While some pesticides cause harm by impairing the immune system, others promote higher levels of dangerous estrogens (Muñoz-de-Toro et al. 2006). Still other pesticides may influence the degree of tumor aggressiveness (Demers et al 2000).
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How relevant are animal studies to human health? According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2006), “All known human carcinogens that have been studied adequately for carcinogenicity in experimental animals have produced positive results in one or more animal species.” What’s more, approximately 99 percent of mouse genes are identical to those found in humans (Mouse Genome Sequencing Consortium 2002). Accordingly, we pay close attention to animal studies.
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    Guidelines for Avoiding Pesticide Exposure
    The easiest way to avoid pesticides is to avoid pesticide-laden produce. The EWG (www.ewg.org/foodnews/) has identified twelve fruits and vegetables that it dubs “the dirty dozen,” those doused with the highest levels of pesticide (as of 2011): apples, celery, blueberries, collard greens, grapes (imported), kale, nectarines (imported), peaches, potatoes, spinach, strawberries, and sweet bell peppers.
    You will find most organic produce labeled as such at the store. If you’re not sure, just look at the sticker on the product; all organic produce is labeled with a number beginning with 9. Wash all fruits and vegetables carefully, even organic ones, to remove dirt and traces of pesticide residue.
    Plastics
    Plastics are ever present in our lives. Phthalates, the compounds that give plastics their flexibility, are involved in virtally every step of the food preparation, delivery, and storage chain. Commercial food is commonly processed using plastic equipment. Plus, it is packed and distributed in plastic-lined boxes and cans, most of which contain the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), an alleged endocrine disruptor and carcinogen. At home, many people deposit and then reheat leftovers in plastic containers that can transfer small particles of plastic into the food. The salt, fat, and acid found in many foods make matters worse by facilitating the transfer.
    Phthalates are also contained in air fresheners, carpeting, cars, cleaners, computers, flea collars, floors, furniture, insect repellants, medical devices, nail polish, paints, perfume, PVC water pipes, rainwear, shampoo, shoes, shower curtains, shrink-wrap, teething rings, toys, varnishes, and many other consumer products (Berkson 2000). They are even used in pharmaceuticals to help enable timed-release dosing.
    The association between phthalates and breast cancer has been hotly debated for over two decades. Plastic industry lobbyists (SPI 2009) claim that people’s exposure to single-product compounds is well below toxic-exposure limits and causes no problems. Health experts and environmentalists (Takahashi and Oishi