Cosmetic chemicals found in breast tumours

[Guest guest]

> New Scientist> 12:24 12 January 04> http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994555>> NewScientist.com news service>> Preservative chemicals found in samples of breast tumours probably camefrom> underarm deodorants, UK scientists have claimed.> Their analysis of 20 breast tumours found high concentrations of> para-hydroxybenzoic acids (parabens) in 18 samples. Parabens can mimic the> hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development ofbreast> cancers. The preservatives are used in many cosmetics and some foods to> increase their shelf-life.> "From this research it is not possible to say whether parabens actually> caused these tumours, but they may certainly be associated with theoverall> rise in breast cancer cases," says Philip Harvey, an editor of the Journal> of Applied Toxicology, which published the research.> "Given that breast cancer is the largest killer of women and a very high> percentage of young women use underarm deodorants, I think we should be> carrying out properly funded, further investigations into parabens andwhere> they are found in the body," Harvey told New Scientist.>> Chemical cousins>> The new research was led by molecular biologist Philippa Darbre, at the> University of Reading. She says that the ester-bearing form of parabens> found in the tumours indicates it came from something applied to the skin,> such as an underarm deodorant, cream or body spray. When parabens areeaten,> they are metabolised and lose the ester group, making them less strongly> estrogen-mimicking.> "One would expect tumours to occur evenly, with 20 per cent arising ineach> of the five areas of the breast," Darbre told New Scientist. "But these> results help explain why up to 60 per cent of all breast tumours are found> in just one-fifth of the breast - the upper-outer quadrant, nearest the> underarm."> However, Chris Flower, director general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and> Perfumery Association, challenged the study's findings. "There are almostno> deodorants and body sprays that contain parabens," he says. "Although they> are in most other creams and cosmetics, the safety margin is huge and they> would not have any effect on enhancing growth of new tumours."> Darbre replies that deodorants and antiperspirants have only stopped> containing parabens in the last few months and that the tumours shestudied> occurred prior to this.> A small survey by New Scientist of three British high street shops and one> supermarket found deodorants in each that contained parabens, althoughmost> of these products did not. However, many other products used under the arm> commonly contained parabens, such as body sprays, hair removal creams and> shaving gels. Body lotions, face creams, cleansers and shampoos also> frequently contained parabens.>> Skin deep>> Previously published studies have shown that parabens are able to be> absorbed through the skin and to bind to the body's estrogen-receptors,> where they can encourage breast cancer cell growth.> But Flower maintains that the amount of parabens absorbed by the skin is> very low and the parabens are "metabolised by the skin cells to produce> products that have no estrogenic activity".> Darbre's research did not look at the concentrations of parabens in other> areas of the breast or body tissues and Harvey cautions that the> significance of the chemicals in tumour tissue should not be> over-interpreted.> Darbre says she has not used cosmetic products, including underarm> deodorants, for eight years. She recommends that other women do the same> "until their safety can be established".> Journal reference: Journal of Applied Toxicology (vol 24, p5)>> Gaia Vince>>

 

 

[Guest guest]

This is scary!

 

Val

 

-

luckypig

Health

Monday, January 12, 2004 1:29 PM

Cosmetic chemicals found in breast tumours

 

> New Scientist> 12:24 12 January 04> http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994555>> NewScientist.com news service>> Preservative chemicals found in samples of breast tumours probably camefrom> underarm deodorants, UK scientists have claimed.> Their analysis of 20 breast tumours found high concentrations of> para-hydroxybenzoic acids (parabens) in 18 samples. Parabens can mimic the> hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development ofbreast> cancers. The preservatives are used in many cosmetics and some foods to> increase their shelf-life.> "From this research it is not possible to say whether parabens actually> caused these tumours, but they may certainly be associated with theoverall> rise in breast cancer cases," says Philip Harvey, an editor of the Journal> of Applied Toxicology, which published the research.> "Given that breast cancer is the largest killer of women and a very high> percentage of young women use underarm deodorants, I think we should be> carrying out properly funded, further investigations into parabens andwhere> they are found in the body," Harvey told New Scientist.>> Chemical cousins>> The new research was led by molecular biologist Philippa Darbre, at the> University of Reading. She says that the ester-bearing form of parabens> found in the tumours indicates it came from something applied to the skin,> such as an underarm deodorant, cream or body spray. When parabens areeaten,> they are metabolised and lose the ester group, making them less strongly> estrogen-mimicking.> "One would expect tumours to occur evenly, with 20 per cent arising ineach> of the five areas of the breast," Darbre told New Scientist. "But these> results help explain why up to 60 per cent of all breast tumours are found> in just one-fifth of the breast - the upper-outer quadrant, nearest the> underarm."> However, Chris Flower, director general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and> Perfumery Association, challenged the study's findings. "There are almostno> deodorants and body sprays that contain parabens," he says. "Although they> are in most other creams and cosmetics, the safety margin is huge and they> would not have any effect on enhancing growth of new tumours."> Darbre replies that deodorants and antiperspirants have only stopped> containing parabens in the last few months and that the tumours shestudied> occurred prior to this.> A small survey by New Scientist of three British high street shops and one> supermarket found deodorants in each that contained parabens, althoughmost> of these products did not. However, many other products used under the arm> commonly contained parabens, such as body sprays, hair removal creams and> shaving gels. Body lotions, face creams, cleansers and shampoos also> frequently contained parabens.>> Skin deep>> Previously published studies have shown that parabens are able to be> absorbed through the skin and to bind to the body's estrogen-receptors,> where they can encourage breast cancer cell growth.> But Flower maintains that the amount of parabens absorbed by the skin is> very low and the parabens are "metabolised by the skin cells to produce> products that have no estrogenic activity".> Darbre's research did not look at the concentrations of parabens in other> areas of the breast or body tissues and Harvey cautions that the> significance of the chemicals in tumour tissue should not be> over-interpreted.> Darbre says she has not used cosmetic products, including underarm> deodorants, for eight years. She recommends that other women do the same> "until their safety can be established".> Journal reference: Journal of Applied Toxicology (vol 24, p5)>> Gaia Vince>>

 

[Guest guest]

And all the

more reason to find products with all natural

ingredients to put on your body, whether it be

deodorant or lotion or facial scrub

or whatever – anything you put on your body gets absorbed in. I use products that have ingredients such as green

tea, apricot, beta glucan (antioxidant), thyme, willow

bark, grape seed, lemon juice, yucca, honey, blue green algae, chamomile,

avocado oil, etc. etc. Aslo a deodorant crystal stone

works well – you can get that at any HFS.

 

Carol

www.bluegreensolutions.com

 

 

-----Original

Message-----

raveneyes

[raveneyes]

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 9:31 AM

 

Re: Cosmetic chemicals found in

breast tumours

 

 

This is scary!

 

 

 

 

 

Val

 

 

 

-

 

 

luckypig

 

 

 

Health

 

 

Monday,

January 12, 2004 1:29 PM

 

 

Subject:

Cosmetic chemicals found in breast tumours

 

 

 

 

 

 

>

New Scientist

> 12:24

12 January 04

> http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994555

>

>

NewScientist.com news service

>

>

Preservative chemicals found in samples of breast tumours probably came