REBECCA B.SINGSON, M.D., FPOGS

Contrary to what many people think, genes account for only 30% of total cancer risk. Most cancers actually result from poor dietary habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and exposure to environmental toxins. In fact, so toxic is our environment that the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and the International POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) Elimination Network (IPEN) has declared that if every child born anywhere in this world was tested after birth, we would discover that she or he already has a body burden of toxic chemicals like dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), mercury, pthalates, pesticides, flame retardants, bisphenol A and other dangerous substances resulting from transplacental transmission during the prenatal period. These substances are potent hormone disrupters or EED’s (Environmental Endocrine Disrupter meaning they are capable of interfering with the action of hormones like estrogen by increasing or decreases its hormonal effects). This tells us that from the moment of conception, the process of immune system suppression leading to cancer already started from the womb. In fact, by age 6, some kids have already accumulated one half of their total lifetime amount of cancer causing chemicals!! So, it is really no surprise why we are diagnosing breast cancer in women in their 20’s or 30’s with no family history of breast cancer.

FREE RADICALS

Environmental agents cause havoc on our bodies by increasing our load of free radicals. Free radicals are are unstable molecules that seek to steal an electron from another molecule to neutralize it. In the process, it acts like a spitfire from a chimney burning holes on your carpet, only in this case, its your human cells. Everytime you breathe, 3-5% of your oxygen is converted to free radicals as well as when your cells burn food for energy (a process called oxidative metabolism). On top of these, exposure to lead, pesticides, cadmium, ionizing radiation, alcohol and cigarette smoke all serve to increase free radical activity.

To give you an idea of how much damage free radicals can do, imagine that these rebellious molecules strike and fracture every single one of your DNA molecules 10,000 times a day. About 9,900 of these breaks in the DNA strand are restored to normal by DNA repair enzymes. About 100, or 1 percent, escape the enzymes’ notice. This unrepaired damage accumulates over time, setting the stage for atherosclerosis, cancer, and other degenerative diseases. You can see why slowing the damage–by increasing antioxidant protection—is an anti-aging regimen. Meats, poultry, fish, dairy products, and eggs are devoid of protective antioxidants and have instead abundant supplies of free radical-forming fats. They’re also likely to contain residues of pesticides, herbicides, and other free radical-producing toxins

Damaged DNA in the nucleus may provide the wrong genetic code leading to too much protein synthesis and/or cell growth which results in cancer. Malins (1996) determined that women with metastasized breast cancer exhibit twice as much free-radical damage to the breast tissue DNA than do women with localized cancer. The researchers, therefore. concluded that antioxidants, especially vitamin C, may play a crucial role in controlling free radical damage to the DNA in breast tissue and may help prevent metastasis.

TOXIC METALS

Several hundred years ago we did NOT have the burden of toxic metals in our bodies that we now do, and we also did not have such an exposure to free radicals. Free radicals are increased in activity and quantity by bumping into toxic metals in the body. If you remove the toxic metals from the body, you then greatly reduce the activity and the number of free radicals. Here are the two most common toxic metals we are heavily and unknowingly exposed to.

MERCURY – According to FDA toxicologist Mike Bolger, Ph.D., approximately 2,700 to 6,000 tons of mercury are released annually into the atmosphere naturally by degassing from the Earth’s crust and oceans. Another 2,000 to 3,000 tons are released annually into the atmosphere by human activities, primarily from burning household and industrial wastes, and especially from fossil fuels such as coal. Pregnant women and women of childbearing age, who may become pregnant, however, are advised by FDA experts, to limit their consumption of shark and swordfish to no more than once a month. These fish have much higher levels of methyl mercury than other commonly consumed fish. Mercury is also used in fluorescent lights, pesticides, dental fillings & seed coatings. Mercury thermometers can break in a child’s body but this is no cause for alarm since it is poorly absorbed and can be excreted in a the child’s stool but if liquid mercury spills in the house, it vaporizes readily and is easily absorbed through the lungs.

LEAD – heavy metal found in lead crystals, plumbing, PVC, batteries, old paint, tin cans. The Clean Air Act of 1970 in the U.S. and subsequent regulations reduced lead in the atmosphere by 90%. The single most important action was the successful removal of lead from gasoline. The Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention Act of 1971 banned the use of lead in household paint. All houses built before 1960 have leaded paint. Of houses built between 1960-1974 20% have leaded paint. Peeling paint is a serious health hazard. Only experienced professionals should remove it. Household drinking water may contain excessive amounts of lead from the pipes or the lead solder. Ceramic dinnerware may contain lead from the glaze of clay. Therefore used only ceramic dinnerware that has a written statement that it is lead free..

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS

Other environmental poisons, from pollutants in the air you breathe to chemicals in the water you drink, generate free radicals as well. While you have less control over them than over your diet, you should still limit your contact with them as much as you can. In fact there are many of these free-radical causing toxins right in your very homes and surroundings increasing your predisposition not only to breast cancer but all other types of cancer as well

DIOXINS – are a family of 75 compounds released into the environment during processes such as bleaching pulp and paper, pesticide production, or when plastic, especially PVC and other chlorinated compounds are manufactured or are burned in older incinerators for example, medical waste like IV bags burned in hospital incinerators can release dioxins which are potent hormone disrupters. More than 95% of all dioxins result from human industrial activity, are emitted into the air then deposited on grass and trees and consumed by cows and other animals or is deposited in lakes and streams and ingested by fish. Since these compounds are insoluble in water, are bound to fatty substances and resilient against degradation, they accumulate in the food chain. Ninety-five % of our exposure to dioxin is through meat, fish and dairy products. In Oct. 1977, dioxin was upgraded to a known human carcinogen, one of the most potent ever tested.

POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) – or vinyl, is one of the most common of all plastics, used in everything from flooring to children’s toys. The manufacture of PVC generates large quanitities of dioxin and burning PVC plastic can create dioxins, especially in older incinerators. However, new, high tech incineration does not produce dioxins. PVC plastic has been called one of the single most environmentally damaging and least recyclable of all plastics.

POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCB) – class of 209 related oily compounds that don’t burn easily, hence making them excellent as electrical insulator, fire retardants coating wood and plastic, adhesive and lubricant. They enter the environment during manufacture, during spill while transporting, leaks from transformers & burning of waste in incinerators. Production has been banned since 1970 but is still used in other countries. The fish, dairy and poultry we eat are the most consistent sources of PCBs in the food chain. PCBs are found to bind to estrogen receptor sites & at least 24 studies of human populations show a possible link between PCBs and breast cancer.

PTHALATES – class of chemicals used as plasticizers to make plastics more flexible. Used in food packaging materials like cling wrap and food plastics, car parts, toys, blood bags, inks, nail polish, fragrances, antiperspirants, footwear, shower curtains, upholstery, adhesive for medical devices, carpet backing, blister packing, toothbrushes. Soft cheeses, chocolate bars, chips, cakes packaged in paper and cardboard, sausages, contain pthalates, 59 samples from fifteen brands of baby milk, tested by the ministry of Britain in 1996 all revealed pthalates. Pthalates were also found in fruit juices and distilled water possibly leaching from the plastic container. It was also discovered that when some plastic baby feeding bottles were sterilized, pthalates leached into the milk which is why Evenflo brought back tempered glass baby feeding bottles back to the market. Pthalates have been associated with premature breast development, which is linked to early onset breast cancer.

BISPHENOL A – a component of plastic.It can leach into our bodies from food and beverage packaging since they coat metal products like tin cans and bottle tops including baby formula bottles as well as water supply pipes. Used in polycarbonate plastics, dental sealants in our children’s teeth and in composites (the alternative to the mercury in amalgam fillings. Six different laboratories have demonstrated that (BPA) bisphenol A is an estrogen as there are at least two published in vivo studies showing that it is almost as potent as our natural hormones although not as potent as DES. Munoz de Toro (2005) showed that perinatal exposure to BPA in particular, and to estrogens in general, may increase susceptibility to breast cancer.

PESTICIDES – DDT has been linked to breast since women with breast Ca were found to have higher body levels of DDT then women of the same age without cancer. Acc. to WHO, the countries have high exposures to DDT are China, India and Mexico since they still manufactures and use DDT. Much of our pesticide exposure is through our agricultural products laced with pesticides so it is best best to eat only organic produce.
Pesticide poisoning can occur when classrooms or buildings are sprayed for cockroaches, termites, mosquitoes, etc. Many pesticide labels claim people can return to a sprayed area 1-2 hours after application. It is best to keep children away and to thoroughly ventilate area prior to return.
P-chlorobenzene-a registered pesticide which is an active ingredient in moth repellants is found in all types of air fresheners: liquid, spray and solid. This chemical has been demonstrated in tests by the U.S. National Toxicology Program to cause cancers in rats and mice. The pure white cakes commonly placed in urinals and public toilets to freshen the air are made of 100% p-dichlorobenzene.

THE VALUE OF BREASTFEEDING
Maybe one explanation why mothers who breastfeed have a smaller incidence of breast cancer is that breastfeeding considerably lessens the mother’s body burden of toxic chemicals. The chemical levels in mother’s milk become lower during each individual feeding, and are even lower after a three to six month period of breastfeeding, and are also lower for subsequent children.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
The public’s health is at stake and cannot to wait for proof that certain chemicals cause breast cancer before the concerned agencies move to prevent the occurrence of such a devastating disease. The following measures should at least be taken:

• Educate the public about the health effects of radiation and on how to reduce their exposure
• Tests should be done externsively on all chemicals to check its effect on humans. & phase out chemicals known to cause cancer
• Corporations should be made liable for hazardous practices .
• Establish a comprehensive biomonitoring program to measure the presence of chemicals in people and track resultant health outcomes.