This is an animal study on BPA, a plastic used in cans, bottles and also in some ATM receipts. It shows an increase in density in breast tissue in monkeys, which can be a precursor to Breast Cancer. It’s a bit of a reach, but I’m glad to see some effort going into Breast Cancer prevention. I discussed BPA, an endocrine disruptor, recently here.
Bisphenol A study hints at breast-cancer link
McClatchy Newspapers
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Washington —
A new study of fetal exposure to BPA, a plastic additive found in some food packaging, shows that the chemical altered mammary gland development in monkeys.
The researchers reported that the changes they observed in the monkeys reinforce concerns that BPA – bisphenol A – could contribute to breast cancer in women…
Earlier studies by Ana Soto and Carlos Sonnenschein, also authors of the new study, found that exposing rodents to small amounts of BPA could change their mammary gland development and lead to precancerous and cancerous lesions when the animals exposed as fetuses became adults.
“We think that our results suggest that it is very likely that fetal exposure to BPA would also increase the propensity to develop mammary cancer in monkeys,” Soto said.
The sum of all the findings “strongly suggest that BPA is a breast carcinogen in humans and human exposure to BPA should be curtailed,” she said.
The Food and Drug Administration has said that BPA is safe. On March 30, the FDA rejected a petition by the Natural Resources Defense Council to ban it. The FDA then said that more studies were needed.
The American Chemistry Council said the new study was faulty and didn’t alter its view that BPA is safe. Other studies have convinced regulators in the United States, Europe and Japan that BPA isn’t a carcinogenic hazard, said the council’s Steven Hentges.
