- A controversial study which suggests a potential link
between a common chemical found in cosmetics and deodorants and breast
cancer is published this week.
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- Researchers looked at 20 human breast tumours and found
synthetic chemicals known as parabens in 18 of them, with high concentrations
in four of the malignancies.
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- It is the first time parabens have been detected within
tumours, suggesting that the man-made chemicals have accumulated in the
breast tissue after being absorbed through the skin.
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- But the study raises more questions than it answers,
and cancer charities last night urged caution over the results, stressing
that they did not prove a link between the cosmetics, deodorants or antiperspirants
and the development of cancer.
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- The study, published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology
, did not show if the chemicals are also found in healthy women's breasts,
or what role they might play, if any, in the growth of tumours.
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- Parabens are synthetic chemicals used to preserve goods
from cosmetics such as face cream, foundation and face masks through to
the methyl and propyl forms of the chemical as food preservatives. They
are also used industrially in oils, fats, shoe polish and glues.
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- Dr Philippa Darbre, cancer researcher at the University
of Reading, who carried out the study said: 'Finding these chemicals in
human breast tumours does matter, because we know from other work that
they can mimic the way oestrogen works to drive the growth of cancer.
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- 'This is the first step; we need to see whether the chemicals
are present in the healthy tissue and, if so, what the concentration levels
are. But we have detected these intact molecules and I don't think it can
be ignored.
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- 'For years people have said there is no way they could
enter the body because of our physiology, but I think it is to do with
a physical overload of chemicals and that some are being absorbed by the
skin. Women managed for centuries without these materials and it has to
be asked if we really need them now.'
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- However, some of her previous research has been dismissed
by scientists who believe there is no clear evidence that the chemicals
are linked to breast cancer.
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- Instead, they blame an increase in obesity and women
having children later in life as the main reasons for the rise in breast
cancer cases, from 20,000 cases in the late 1970s to almost 40,000 cases
a year now.
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- Darbre has carried out other studies which she says show
a link between deodorants and cancer. Previously she looked at aluminium
and zirconium contained in the materials, which she suggested would have
an effect on the DNA controlling cancer growth.
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- For years, there have been concerns over whether deodorants
or antiperspirants could cause the cancer, although often the rumours seemed
to be more urban myth than reality.
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- Scientists have explained that physiologically it would
be very hard for the chemicals to penetrate to the breast, as the lymph
glands would usually clear away any toxins.
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- Dr Philip Harvey, European Editor of the Journal of Applied
Toxicology, said the results should be interpreted with caution. He added
that the finding was important because it showed that 'these oestrogenic
chemicals can be detected in the breast and are therefore absorbed'.
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- Karol Sikora, professor of oncology at Imperial College
London, said: 'We are all exposed to all kinds of chemicals, but it doesn't
mean they all cause cancer. The question is whether the chemicals would
have an impact on the hormones, and also what level you would see in a
healthy breast tissue.'
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- Dr Richard Sullivan, Head of Clinical Programmes at Cancer
Research UK, agreed: 'It should be noted that the sample size is very small.
No causal relationship has ever been found between underarm cosmetics containing
parabens and breast cancer.'
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- Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited
2004
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- http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,1120502,00.html
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