Introduction
Breast Cancer
Endometriosis
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Advice to reduce chemical exposure
Useful contacts
Welcome to my first newsletter on the environmental causes of women's ill health.
Last month I hosted a forum at Parliament called Silent Epidemics, which focused on the effect of synthetic chemicals on women’s health, especially in relation to breast cancer, endometriosis and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. I have received so many requests for material from the conference that I decided to set up a webpage devoted to the issue of environmental health.
One in nine or almost 2000 women will get breast cancer in this country every year and each year 600 women will die from this disease. The stark reality is that the rate of breast cancer is rising, and more women are dying of this terrible disease every year.
We don’t know how many women are affected by endometriosis and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, because incredibly, there are no national statistics collected for either of these conditions. It is thought however that endometriosis affects about 1 in 5 girls and women and that an extraordinary 80% of sufferers of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity are women.
Despite all the money being poured into the early detection of breast cancer, we are still no further ahead in preventing the disease. But many suspect that environmental causes such as exposure to dangerous chemicals and radiation contribute to as much as 50% of cancers. The government’s recently released Cancer Control Strategy acknowledges there are environmental causes of cancer, but does nothing to address the problem except for a cursory mention that people working in certain occupations are most at risk.
One common factor that is known to contribute to all three of these conditions is naturally occurring oestrogen and the hundreds of hormonally active, synthetic chemicals that are found in our food, water, air and household chemicals. These hormonally active chemicals mimic or disrupt the effects of oestrogen, increase our exposure to oestrogen like substances and the risk of breast cancer and other diseases. It is extraordinary that so little attention is being paid to the health effects of these chemicals. Neither the Ministry of Health nor the Cancer Control Strategy acknowledges the role of chemicals in causing these diseases.
There is much that could be done to reduce our exposure to high-risk synthetic chemicals, and hence to these three debilitating diseases. One question that needs to be address is why it is that, when radiation is a known cause of breast cancer, we rely so heavily on mammograms for detection, especially given that other methods are available. Surely it is time for the government to evaluate the effectiveness of other detection methods, such as ultrasound and thermal imaging.
Finally, we have developed a set of recommendations or strategies to help reduce the incidence of these three conditions/diseases and will be lobbying government to act on these recommendations. We welcome your feedback and suggestions on these recommendations (see below).
Below are brief summaries of the three speakers at the forum: Mrs Hanifa Koya, a Wellington gynaecologist and specialist in endometriosis; Ms Pat Costner, Senior Scientist with Greenpeace International; and Dr Meriel Watts, an environmental health researcher.
There is a well-established link between high levels of natural oestrogen and the risk of breast cancer. But concern is mounting that hormonally active synthetic chemicals are also increasing our exposure to oestrogen-like substances and thereby increasing our risk of breast cancer. It is interesting to note that the rise in breast cancer rates parallels the rise in the use of these chemicals over the last 50 years
More than 200 chemicals have been identified as mammary carcinogens, and another 500 as being oestrogenic ones that increase our risk of breast cancer. Many of these chemicals are found in our everyday environment - as pollutants in our air, water, and food caused by industrial emissions, pesticides, household cleaners, cosmetics, furnishings, clothing, medicines and many other common products. They are there also found in building materials - as flame retardants, and solvents in glues, sealants and formulated ‘wood’ products - jeopardising the health of the people who live and work in houses and offices that use these materials. Trying to find out which chemicals are in such products is very difficult without Right to Know legislation that requires manufacturers to divulge the contents of the various products they sell.
Other studies show a link between breast cancer and organochlorine pesticides such as dieldrin, DDT, heptachlor, and hexachlorobenzene; and with other organochlorine pollutants like PCBs and dioxin. Many of these are found in our food, water and household chemicals. Women working in certain occupations with high exposure to chemicals have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
The overall risk from dioxin in New Zealand is high: the government has estimated that the lifetime risk from dioxin for the New Zealand population may be more than 1 additional cancer per 1000 individuals. The Ministry for the Environment has finally acknowledged that “that there is no safe level of exposure to dioxins”.
Although there are no official figures for the incidence of endometriosis in New Zealand, there is strong anecdotal information that it is reaching epidemic proportions, especially amongst young women and girls. Young women face terrible pain and the prospect of infertility from this debilitating disease that is frequently misdiagnosed and left untreated for many years.
Hanifa Koya laid the blame for this epidemic on our increasingly oestrogenic environment, indicting environmental pollutants such as DDT, PCBs, and dioxin, and chemicals that we still use like the herbicide 2,4-D and mercury. The forum participants were warned that exposure to these toxins leads to a number of problems affecting reproductive health, such as endometriosis, infertility, severe PMS, increased risk of breast and uterine cancer, uterine cysts, erratic periods and fibrocystic breast disease. They also cause heart disease, diabetes, migraines, and developmental problems.
Dioxin can cause endometriosis because of its ability to disrupt immune and endocrine systems. Current levels of dioxin among the general population are 2 to 20 times higher than the levels associated with endometriosis in monkeys. Dioxin is also implicated in other autoimmune and endocrine disorders such as allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and hypothyroidism.
Based on overseas research Dr Meriel Watts estimates that about 20,000 women in New Zealand may be affected by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Overseas research also shows that about 80% of people with this heightened sensitivity to chemicals are women. Sufferers are often forced to take extraordinary measures to avoid contact even with common household products, leaving them with severely disrupted lives as well as a legacy of debilitating exhaustion and multiple symptoms. Why are so many women suffering from this condition? Again, natural oestrogen, which underlies women’s greater sensitivity to chemicals, seems to be a major culprit as well as synthetic chemicals that mimic oestrogen.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is an extreme example of the impact synthetic chemicals have on our health. People who suffer this heightened sensitivity are like canaries in our society. In days gone by miners used caged canaries to work out when toxic gases were present in the mines. We should be listening now when so many people are sick from the chemicals that pervade our society. We should also be trying to drastically cut our exposure to these chemicals, if we want to improve the health of women in this country who suffer from this condition.
Industries/Occupations with increased risk of Breast Cancer
- Aircraft workers chemical industry
- Automotive workers furniture manufacturing
- Beauticians metal manufacturing
- Dental hygienists pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Hairdressers printing
- Laboratory technicians textile industry
- Nurses wood fabrication
- Pharmacists pesticide application
Some pesticides used in New Zealand linked to breast cancer:
- atrazine 2,4-D
- chlorpyrifos malathion
- cypermethrin permethrin
- dichlorvos
- nonylphenol ethoxylate is added to some sprays as a surfactant (also found in detergents, shampoos) – which disrupts the endocrine system.
Foray 48B
The formulation of the insecticide that was sprayed over East Auckland against the white spotted tussock moth and West Auckland against the painted apple moth contained methyl paraben, which disrupts the endocrine system. It has been linked to breast cancer. Whether or not this chemical is still present in the version been sprayed over Hamilton is a state secret.
Flame retardant chemicals
A number of these chemicals, which are found in cars, computers, building insulation, children’s clothing, carpets, and furniture, are known to cause mammary tumours or disrupt hormones.
The polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs) are being phased out in the European Union after a Swedish study that found levels of the chemicals in breast milk in Sweden had increased forty times from 1972 to 1997. They have also been found in the tissues of whales, seals, birds and bird eggs, moose, reindeer, mussels, eels, and dozens of species of freshwater and marine fish.
If you would like to view copies of the notes of our speakers visit our Environmental Health Campaign Page
Proposed recommendations to reduce the incidence of endometriosis, breast cancer and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity:
- Amend the New Zealand Cancer Strategy to reduce the exposure of women to mammary carcinogens and hormonally active chemicals.
- Undertake research to evaluate alternative, non-radiation techniques for diagnosing breast cancer, such as modern digital thermal imaging and ultra sound scans.
- Phase out known carcinogens and hormonally active chemicals from industrial processes and everyday products.
- Enshrine in law every New Zealander’s right to know what chemicals are contained in everyday products or chemicals that people may be exposed to through emissions from various sources including transport and industry.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity:
- Officially recognise multiple chemical sensitivity as a disease arising from environmental causes.
- Provide training for doctors and other health care practitioners in diagnosis and treatment of multiple chemical sensitivity.
- Undertake research to establish the prevalence and risk factors for multiple chemical sensitivity in New Zealand.
- Develop a national strategy on multiple chemical sensitivity, focussed on prevention through reducing people’s exposure to specific chemicals.
- Officially recognise endometriosis as a significant disease affecting women in New Zealand.
- Provide training for doctors and other health care practitioners in diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis.
- Undertake research to establish the prevalence and risk factors for endometriosis in New Zealand.
- Implement a government funded awareness campaign targeted at young women.
- Develop a national strategy on endometriosis, focussed on prevention through the reduction of risk factors for the disease.
If you would like a full list of these recommendations, or have other suggestions to make, please e-mail execsecsuekedgley [at] parliament [dot] govt [dot] nz or call us on (04) 470-6717
Practical advice for reducing exposure to chemicals that may cause breast cancer, endometriosis or multiple chemical sensitivity
- Avoid eating high-fat animal products
- Be careful in the garden as the soil may be contaminated
- Reduce dust & dirt in the home
- Use glass or ceramics instead of plastic where possible to store food & water
- Use simple detergents with low chemical levels
- Search out and use non-toxic products; ask retailers to stock them
- Use natural pest control rather than pesticides
- Eat organic produce
Other actions you can take:
- Form your own support group for women affected by these health problems in your area
- Write to your local MP seeking action on the environmental causes of these diseases/conditions
- Write letters to your local newspaper talking about the environmental causes of these diseases/conditions
- Get involved with action groups on these diseases/conditions as listed below
- Write to the Minister of Health asking that the recommendations above be implemented
- If you are affected by these health problems find out as much as possible about them in order to improve your health
- If you are not affected by them, avoid the chemicals that cause these diseases so you stay well
Endometriosis
New Zealand Endometriosis Foundation Inc.
0800 733 277 (support line)
(06) 359 2613 (office ph/fax)
nzendo [at] xtra [dot] co [dot] nz (e-mail)
www.nzendo.co.nz (web-site)
Breast cancer
Breast Cancer Network
(09) 526 8853 (ph)
(09) 526 8860 (fax)
brcanz [at] xtra [dot] co [dot] nz (e-mail)
www.bcn.org.nz (web-site)
New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation
TelstraClear Toll Free 0800 902 732
(09) 308 0243 (ph)
(09) 308 0244 (fax)
laurah [at] nzbcf [dot] org [dot] nz (e-mail)
www.nzbcf.org.nz (web-site)
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Support Network for the Aldehyde and Solvent Affected (SNFTAS)
Eliz Halford (Secretary)
bozley [at] inspire [dot] net [dot] nz (e-mail)
www.ncchem.com/snftaas/ (website)
Women's Health Organisations
Federation of Women's' Health Councils Aotearoa
(03) 768 7505 (ph)
(03) 768 5095 (fax)
Or (06) 323 8357 (ph/fax)
fedwhc [at] xtra [dot] co [dot] nz (e-mail)
For more information on the environmental causes of breast cancer visit: http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/
