Cosmetic chemicals found in breast tumours
Preservative chemicals found in samples of breast tumours probably
came from underarm deodorants, UK scientists have claimed.
Their analysis of 20 breast tumours found high concentrations of para-
hydroxybenzoic acids (parabens) in 18 samples. Parabens can mimic the
hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of
breast cancers. The preservatives are used in many cosmetics and some
foods to increase their shelf-life.
"From this research it is not possible to say whether parabens actually
caused these tumours, but they may certainly be associated with the
overall rise in breast cancer cases," says Philip Harvey, an editor of the
Journal of Applied Toxicology, which published the research.
"Given that breast cancer is the largest killer of women and a very high
percentage of young women use underarm deodorants, I think we should
be carrying out properly funded, further investigations into parabens and
where they are found in the body," Harvey told New Scientist.
Chemical cousins
The new research was led by molecular biologist Philippa Darbre, at the
University of Reading. She says that the ester-bearing form of parabens
found in the tumours indicates it came from something applied to the
skin, such as an underarm deodorant, cream or body spray. When
parabens are eaten, they are metabolised and lose the ester group,
making them less strongly estrogen-mimicking.
"One would expect tumours to occur evenly, with 20 per cent arising in
each of the five areas of the breast," Darbre told New Scientist. "But these
results help explain why up to 60 per cent of all breast tumours are found
in just one-fifth of the breast - the upper-outer quadrant, nearest the
underarm."
However, Chris Flower, director general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and
Perfumery Association, challenged the study's findings. "There are almost
no deodorants and body sprays that contain parabens," he says.
"Although they are in most other creams and cosmetics, the safety margin
is huge and they would not have any effect on enhancing growth of new
tumours."
Darbre replies that deodorants and antiperspirants have only stopped
containing parabens in the last few months and that the tumours she
studied occurred prior to this.
A small survey by New Scientist of three British high street shops and one
supermarket found deodorants in each that contained parabens, although
most of these products did not. However, many other products used
under the arm commonly contained parabens, such as body sprays, hair
removal creams and shaving gels. Body lotions, face creams, cleansers
and shampoos also frequently contained parabens.
Skin deep
Previously published studies have shown that parabens are able to be
absorbed through the skin and to bind to the body's estrogen-receptors,
where they can encourage breast cancer cell growth.
But Flower maintains that the amount of parabens absorbed by the skin is
very low and the parabens are "metabolised by the skin cells to produce
products that have no estrogenic activity".
Darbre's research did not look at the concentrations of parabens in other
areas of the breast or body tissues and Harvey cautions that the
significance of the chemicals in tumour tissue should not be over-
interpreted.
Darbre says she has not used cosmetic products, including underarm
deodorants, for eight years. She recommends that other women do the
same "until their safety can be established".
Journal reference: Journal of Applied Toxicology (vol 24, p5)So..................instead of using deodorants, she wants us to sweat freely. Oh goodie. Ya just can't win, can ya?? I remember when the e-mail came around saying that deodorants caused cancer, and then snopes.com deemed it an urban legend. It really makes sense though, all in all. I wish they would spend more time figuring out if this is a real problem. (I think it might be)
**OT - this was incredibly hard to respond to, as I was fighting a kitten off the keyboard the entire time....I THINK I fixed all the typos....haha
LOL! Sorry to make light of it, but I wonder how her social life has been the last 8 years! Oddly, I no longer sweat except in one spot on my back. Something to do with neuropathy. I have been thinking deoderant is a bit pointless.
Laker
Haha I didn't even think that far, but yes, my mind wandered the same way.......