A new study suggests exposure in the womb to chemicals that mimic estrogen could increase the risk of developing breast cancer as an adult. Rebecca Williams reports the study looked specifically at a chemical that’s found in many food containers and plastic bottles:
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A new study suggests exposure in the womb to chemicals that mimic estrogen could increase the risk of developing breast cancer as an adult. Rebecca Williams reports the study looked specifically at a chemical that’s found in many food containers and plastic bottles:
Bisphenol A has been shown to leach out of food and beverage containers. Scientists are concerned about human exposure to the chemical because it mimics the hormone estrogen.
The new study provides evidence that exposure to estrogen mimics as a fetus increases the risk of developing breast cancer as an adult.
The findings were based on animal studies in rats.
Dr. Ana Soto is an author of the study in the journal Reproductive Toxicology.
“We used to think that the womb was a pristine environment. And we know now that it is not a pristine environment anymore. And I think we should be terribly concerned about that.”
Soto says the rates of breast cancer in the US and Europe have increased over the past 50 years. She says fetal exposure to estrogen mimics could be the underlying cause of that increase.
For the Environment Report, I’m Rebecca Williams.