Breast cancer and the environment

A free 24-page downloadable guide to peer-reviewed research on breast cancer prevention.

Explores the occupational exposures in producing plastics and health risks to workers, particularly women, who make up a large part of the workforce. Demonstrates that workers are exposed to chemicals that have been identified as mammary carcinogens and endocrine disrupting chemicals, and that the work environment is heavily contaminated with dust and fumes. Finds that, as a consequence, plastics workers have a body burden of environmental contaminants that far exceeds that found in the general public.

Written by science journalist Florence Williams who discusses the latest science from the fields of anthropology, biology, and medicine as it relates to breast health. Investigates the life cycle of the breast from puberty to pregnancy to menopause. Examines examines how our breasts and our environment are intricately related because breasts are made up of fat and glandular tissue and more easily absorb chemical toxins from the environment than do many other parts of our body. 

Reviews the book Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History by Florence Williams. Breasts examines how our breasts and our environment are intricately related because breasts are made up of fat and glandular tissue and more easily absorb chemical toxins from the environment than do many other parts of our body.

Factsheet detailing the various plastics that workers may come in contact with in the auto industry, and how contact with these plastics may affect their health.

A literature review of chemical exposure and plastics production as it relates to women's health.

Fourteen videos documenting a workshop hosted by NNEWH in partnership with the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) in January 2012 in Windsor, Ontario. The workshop dealt with recent studies on the emerging health concerns for women workers in the auto sector, specifically plastics manufacturing and the possible elevated incidence of breast cancer and reproductive problems in women plastics workers. 

A clear language factsheet describing the possible health dangers from chemical expsurres experienced by women who work in the automotive plastics industry.  Exposures described are mainly by breathing the fumes and dusts, and also by absorption through the skin. Many of these chemicals interfere with hormone systems and are therefore called endocrine disruptors.

Discusses the work of researchers Jim Brophy and Margaret Keith who have studied the links between cancer risk and occupation in the automovie plastics industry in Sarnia, Ontario. Much of the material used in this article is drawn from the chapter entitled “Plastics Industry Workers and Breast Cancer Risk: Are We Heeding the Warnings?” in the book Consuming Chemicals: Law, Science and Policy for Women's Health, edited by D.N. Scott and written by Brophy, Keith, and fellow researchers Robert DeMatteo, Michael Gilbertson, Andrew Watterson and Matthias Beck.