House chemicals that trigger breast cancer....
At the time of writing this, there are tens of thousands of chemicals in our environment that did not exist 70 years ago.
They are ubiquitous in our environment and the effects of these chemicals are only now being recognised. There is not a lot we can do to directly to affect the chemical load on the planet but there is a great deal that we can do to influence the chemicals in the home.
Why should is this such a problem?
A recent study revealed that the chemicals in your kitchen or bathroom can trigger breast cancer.
The chemicals that are most concerning are
Bisphenol A This guy is found in most plastics such as bottles and inside canned & carton foods. This can be a driver for Neurological development disorders, thyroid issues, obesity, infant development issues, cancer and sexual dysfunction.
Triclosan You will find this guy in your personal care items such as shaving cream and gels, toothpaste & cheap hand soaps. Its role is to act as an antimicrobial and preservative. It can inhibit thyroid function & affect metabolic pathways.
4-Nonylphenol This little beauty is another nightmare for the hormone system. It is found in emulsifiers, foaming agents, dispersants & detergents.
William Baldwin, assistant professor at the University of Texas found that the chemical 4-nonylphenol increases breast cancer risk by binding to estrogen receptors in the breast.
How the Study was Conducted?
To study the effects of 4NP and its effects on cancer incidence, Baldwin gave differing doses of 4NP to mice. What was found was that the mice who were administered high levels of 4NP developed breast cancer at a much higher rate than those who received none.
It is almost impossible to tell what your levels are without testing for them which is fortunately possible. Genova diagnostics have a Bisphenol A (BPA) Profile - Urine profile that they run. As one of your standard overall health investigations it is a good test profile to run.
Below is a snip picture of what this test looks like. Click on teh picture for a full report...
What is equally good news is that you can detoxify these environmental toxins.
I recommend finding a skilled therapist who has experience with functional testing and detoxification practices if you think it may be a factor in your health.
Paul Foley Nutritional Therapist Dip Nut CNM, mBANT, mCNH
Phone; 0759 793 6899 Email; paul@pfoleyclinic.com Web; www.pfoleyclinic.com
This was adapted and edited with compliments from Functional Medicine University www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com. Paul is currently studying functional medicine with the university.
References
Acevedo R, Parnell PG, Villanueva H, Chapman LM, Gimenez T, Gray SL, Baldwin WS. The contribution of hepatic steroid metabolism to serum estradiol and estriol concentrations in nonylphenol treated MMTVneu mice and its potential effects on breast cancer incidence and latency. J Appl Toxicol. 2005 Jul 12