Link Between Chemicals And Breast Cancer Proven

A chemical found in cleaning agents, textiles and plastics poses a risk for breast cancer. That’s the result of a study of the University of Texas http://www.utep.edu and the Clemson Universityhttp://www.clemson.edu. Experts have feared for a while that hormone-interfering substances in the environment pose a threat. The Journal of Applied Toxicology http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/2457 reports that 4-Nonylphenol causes breast cancer in mice. According to the BBC further research is necessary to verify a risk for humans.

If Nonylphenol gets into the body it imitates the female sexual hormone oestrogen. In the liver an enzyme system is stimulated, which boosts the production of the similar hormone Estriol. Oestrogen and Estriol were associated with breast cancer. Also it binds itself to the oestrogen-receptors in the breast, which can result in a more rapid cancer growth than oestrogen by itself.

William Baldwin and his team form the University of Texas compared the effects of 4-Nonylpheno (4-NP) and oestrogen in mice. The scientists administered different amounts of both substances to the animals. The mice were genetically modified that they easily suffered from breast cancer.

Many mice that were given 4-NP contracted breast cancer within 32 weeks.

Animals given comparable amounts of oestrogen stayed healthy. The reason for that is that 4-NP actually stimulates the Estriol-production in the liver.

But the Estriol-levels in the blood were not increased. That means that not only enzymes which produce Estriol were stimulated, but also that a suppression of the Estriol-production must take place.

The scientists assume that cancer causing mechanisms are very complex. Baldwin explained that a long-term contact with 4-NP significantly increases the risk for breast cancer in humans.

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