Chlorine-based Chemicals Can Cause Breast Cancer, Study

Chlorine-based chemicals may be an important factor in the development of breast cancer, says a research group from the Women’s Environment Development Organization.

A study released by Greenpeace titled “Chlorine, Human Health & the Environment : Breast Cancer Warning,” found :

* Women with the highest concentration of chlorine-based pesticides and chemicals in their blood were four to ten times more at risk than women with lower concentration.

* Chlorine-based chemicals including pesticides and materials used to make vinyl had caused cancer in laboratory animals.

* Women exposed to the chemicals in the workplace often have unusually high rates of breast cancer. US countries with hazardous waste sites are six and a half times more likely to have a higher breast cancer rate.

* Breast cancer mortality rates in Israel decreased sharply when it banned several-chlorine based pesticides while rates in other states rose.

While chlorine-based chemicals are not the only risk factor for breast cancer, “the evidence is strongly suggestive and it is not practical, responsible or ethical to wait for proof before taking action to protect womens” health, it said.