News Cosmetic chemicals found in breast tumours

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Monday, January 12, 2004 11:31 AM

[Paranormal_Research] News 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 from> 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 of breast> 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 the overall> 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 and where> 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 are eaten,> 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 in each> 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 almost no> 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 she studied> 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, although most> 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>> «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»Paranormal_Research - Scientific Data & Health Conspiracies Paranormal_ResearchSubscribe:... Paranormal_Research-