BUSPH Study Links Cleaning Products to Breast Cancer
Women who report greater use of cleaning products may be at higher breast cancer risk than those who say they use them sparingly, according to a study co-authored by Boston University Professor and Associate Chair of Epidemiology Ann Aschengrau.
Aschengrau and colleagues from the Silent Spring Institute in Newton, Mass., carried out telephone interviews with 787 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 721 comparison women.
“Women who reported the highest combined cleaning product use had a doubled risk of breast cancer compared to those with the lowest reported use,” said Julia Brody, executive director of Silent Spring Institute. “Use of air fresheners and products for mold and mildew control were associated with increased risk. To our knowledge, this is the first published report on cleaning product use and risk of breast cancer.”
The researchers questioned women on product use, beliefs about breast cancer causes, and established and suspected risk factors. They found that cleaning products, air fresheners, and insect repellents were associated with breast cancer, but little association was observed with overall pesticide use. Women with breast cancer who believed that chemicals and pollutants contribute ‘a lot’ to the risk of developing the condition were more likely to report high product usage.
To read the full report, click here.
Submitted by Elana Zak