Research Results
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2018
Nutr Cancer
A case-control study of 136 breast cancer patients and 272 controls in Iran found that women consuming the most pro-inflammatory diets (highest quartile of DII scores) had a 164% increased breast cancer risk compared to those with the least inflammatory diets, with the association particularly striking among premenopausal women who showed a 451% increased risk. No association was detected in postmenopausal women, contrasting with findings from other studies that have typically shown stronger effects in postmenopausal populations. These findings suggest that pro-inflammatory dietary patterns may be especially harmful during premenopausal years when breast tissue is more metabolically active and hormone-responsive, highlighting the potential importance of anti-inflammatory dietary interventions—emphasizing whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and fish while limiting processed foods, red meat, and refined carbohydrates—as a targeted prevention strategy for younger women at risk of breast cancer.
Dietary Inflammatory Potential Score and Risk of Breast Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
2018
Clinic Breast Cancer
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 studies including 296,102 participants found that higher dietary inflammatory potential was associated with a 14% increased breast cancer risk overall, though the association varied by study design with case-control studies showing stronger effects (63% increased risk, not statistically significant) than cohort studies (4% increased risk, not significant). The pooled analysis across all study types showed a significant positive association between pro-inflammatory diets and breast cancer, suggesting that dietary modifications to reduce inflammatory potential could meaningfully reduce breast cancer risk. These findings reinforce that chronic low-grade inflammation driven by diet—characterized by high intake of refined carbohydrates, red and processed meats, and trans fats with low consumption of anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids—contributes to breast carcinogenesis, supporting dietary pattern interventions focused on anti-inflammatory foods as an accessible and modifiable prevention strategy for women.
2018
Maturitas
A Spanish population-based case-control study of 1,006 breast cancer cases and 1,370 controls found that high total meat intake was associated with a 39% increased breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, with processed/cured meat showing a 47% increased risk overall and a striking 152% increased risk specifically for triple-negative breast cancers. Cooking methods and doneness preferences significantly modified risk: well-done red meat was associated with 62% increased risk and stewed red meat with 49% increased risk (particularly for hormone receptor-positive tumors), while pan-fried or breaded white meat showed 38% increased overall risk and 78% increased risk in premenopausal women. These findings suggest that breast cancer risk could be reduced not only by limiting meat consumption—especially processed meats—but also by modifying cooking practices to avoid well-done or high-temperature cooking methods that generate carcinogenic compounds like heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
2018
Breast Cancer Res Treat
A meta-analysis of 25 epidemiological studies (23 cohort studies and 2 randomized trials) found that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was associated with a 33% increased breast cancer risk overall, with combined estrogen-progestin therapy (EPT) showing stronger associations than estrogen-only therapy (ET). EPT was associated with both ductal (51% increased risk) and lobular breast cancer (38% increased risk), and all HRT types were linked to ER-positive but not ER-negative breast cancers, consistent with hormone-driven carcinogenesis. Notably, Asian women using HRT showed higher breast cancer risk than Western women, possibly due to differences in baseline hormone levels, genetic susceptibility, body composition, or HRT formulations used—a finding highlighting the importance of considering racial and ethnic differences when counseling women about menopausal hormone therapy risks and benefits.
2018
Eur J Public Health
A 34-year study in Italy’s Veneto Region, where drinking water was contaminated with PFAS chemicals from a manufacturing plant operating since 1964, found significantly higher mortality rates in contaminated communities compared to uncontaminated areas for multiple diseases including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and breast cancer in women. Women in PFAS-contaminated areas showed elevated mortality from kidney cancer, breast cancer, and Parkinson’s disease, while both men and women had increased deaths from cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. These population-level findings suggest PFAS exposure—from widespread “forever chemicals” used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, stain-resistant fabrics, and firefighting foam—may increase risks for multiple serious diseases including breast cancer, though individual-level studies are needed to confirm causal relationships and understand the mechanisms behind these health impacts.
2018
Biomed Res Int
A case-control study of 116 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer and 226 controls used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to examine the relationship between body composition, physical activity, and breast cancer risk, analyzing results separately by menopausal status. In premenopausal women, higher total body fat percentage, android (abdominal) fat, and waist circumference were associated with increased breast cancer risk, while higher lean body mass and greater physical activity were protective; among postmenopausal women, physical activity reduced breast cancer risk by 49%. The study concludes that low lean body mass and high abdominal fat increase breast cancer risk in premenopausal women, while regular physical activity is protective against breast cancer in both pre- and postmenopausal women. These findings suggest that maintaining healthy body composition through physical activity may be an important breast cancer prevention strategy across all life stages.
2018
Breast Cancer Res Treat
A study of 27,153 postmenopausal women in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial created an estrogen-related lifestyle score (ERLS) combining four factors: estrogenic diet, alcohol intake, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity, with scores ranging from 0-6 and higher scores representing lower estrogenic lifestyle patterns. Women with ERLS scores of 4 or ≥5 had 23% and 34% lower breast cancer risk, respectively, compared to those with scores ≤2, with similar protective effects observed for invasive cases and estrogen receptor-positive subtypes. The findings indicate that adopting multiple low-estrogen lifestyle behaviors together—including a low estrogenic diet, minimal alcohol consumption, healthy body weight, and high physical activity—has a combined protective effect against postmenopausal breast cancer that is stronger than any single factor alone. The researchers suggest this combined effect likely works by influencing estrogen metabolism, highlighting the importance of addressing multiple lifestyle factors simultaneously for breast cancer prevention in postmenopausal women.
2018
Environ Health
A nested case-control study within the California Teachers Study examined 902 women with invasive breast cancer and 858 controls who provided blood samples an average of 35 months after case diagnosis to assess whether serum concentrations of six per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)—PFOA, PFNA, PFUnDA, PFHxS, PFOS, and MeFOSAA—were associated with breast cancer risk. For all invasive breast cancers combined, none of the adjusted odds ratios were statistically significant, though marginally significant inverse associations were observed for PFUnDA and PFHxS; statistically significant inverse associations for these two compounds were found only among the 107 women with hormone receptor-negative tumors, not among the 743 with hormone-positive tumors. The authors conclude that the study provides no evidence that post-diagnosis serum PFAS levels are related to breast cancer risk, and suggest that the few inverse associations observed may be due to chance or study design artifacts, particularly because measurements were taken after diagnosis rather than before. Future research should include pre-diagnosis PFAS measurements, genetic susceptibility factors, and endogenous estrogen levels to better assess whether these widely used synthetic chemicals—some of which are known mammary toxicants and endocrine disruptors—influence breast cancer development.
2018
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Repod Biol
A hospital-based case-control study of 134 breast cancer cases and 267 controls in Tehran, Iran used a 168-item food frequency questionnaire and factor analysis to identify two major dietary patterns and assess their association with breast cancer risk. The “healthy” pattern (high in fruits, vegetables, seeds, legumes, fish, whole grains, and liquid/olive oils, with low salt) showed no significant association with breast cancer (OR: 0.83), while the “unhealthy” pattern (high in sweets, soft drinks, mayonnaise, solid oils, processed meat, fried/boiled potatoes, and salt) was associated with significantly increased breast cancer risk in the highest versus lowest quartile (OR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.04-4.69). When stratified by menopausal status, the unhealthy dietary pattern showed a particularly strong association with breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women (OR: 3.56; 95% CI: 1.16-10.95), but not premenopausal women. These findings suggest that overall dietary patterns—rather than individual nutrients or foods—may be important determinants of breast cancer risk, with an unhealthy Western-style diet pattern characterized by processed foods, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and high salt intake potentially more than doubling breast cancer risk, especially in postmenopausal Iranian women.
2018
Psycho-Oncology
A prospective cohort study of 2,739 women from 990 Australasian families at increased familial breast cancer risk followed participants over multiple 3-year assessment periods, measuring acute and chronic life stressors, social support, and personality characteristics (optimism, anger control, antiemotionality) to determine their association with breast cancer development. During follow-up, 103 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, but Cox proportional hazard regression analysis found no significant associations between any stressor or psychosocial variable and breast cancer risk in either unadjusted or adjusted models (total acute stressors HR = 1.03, p = .19; total chronic stressors HR = 1.0, p = .98). The study concludes that stress, social support, and personality characteristics do not appear to influence breast cancer risk, even in women with increased familial susceptibility. The researchers emphasize that women should focus their prevention efforts on evidence-based risk reduction strategies rather than worrying about stress or personality factors as contributors to breast cancer development, addressing a longstanding concern about the potential role of psychological factors in cancer development.
2018
Int J Cancer
A population-based case-control study in Spain (2008-2013) including 621 prostate cancer cases, 1,205 breast cancer cases, and 2,193 controls who never worked night shifts examined whether meal timing is associated with cancer risk while accounting for lifestyle factors and chronotype (morning vs. evening preference). Participants who waited two or more hours between supper and sleep had a 20% reduced risk of breast and prostate cancer combined (OR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67-0.96) compared to those sleeping immediately after eating, with individual reductions of 26% for prostate cancer and 16% for breast cancer; similarly, eating supper before 9 pm versus after 10 pm showed protective effects, with stronger associations among those adhering to cancer prevention recommendations (OR = 0.65) and morning chronotypes (OR = 0.66). These findings suggest that adhering to diurnal eating patterns—particularly maintaining a long interval between the last meal and sleep—is associated with lower breast and prostate cancer risk, independent of diet quality and other lifestyle factors. The study highlights the emerging importance of meal timing and circadian rhythm alignment in cancer prevention, indicating that when we eat may be as important as what we eat, and suggesting that late-night eating close to bedtime may disrupt metabolic and hormonal processes that influence cancer development.
2018
Curr Oncol Rep
Obesity is now recognized as a leading preventable cause of cancer, particularly postmenopausal estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, and is associated with worse outcomes across all breast cancer subtypes. Multiple interconnected mechanisms link obesity to breast cancer, including elevated estrogen levels, altered hormone-like molecules from fat tissue (leptin and adiponectin), disrupted insulin signaling, changes in gut bacteria, and chronic inflammation throughout the body. Understanding these complex pathways could lead to new prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the growing burden of obesity-related breast cancers worldwide.
2018
Tox Lett
This study investigated how butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), a common environmental contaminant linked to breast cancer, promotes cancer cell growth and identified the molecular mechanisms involved. The researchers found that BBP increased proliferation in both estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7) and negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells by promoting cell cycle progression and upregulating growth-promoting proteins while downregulating tumor suppressor proteins. For the first time, the study revealed that BBP works through modulating microRNA-19a/b, which targets the tumor suppressor gene PTEN, leading to activation of the AKT signaling pathway that promotes cell growth. These findings provide new insights into how BBP contributes to breast cancer development at the molecular level and suggest potential targets for intervention.
2018
Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 studies found suggestive evidence that physical activity may reduce breast cancer risk through increased global DNA methylation, with higher activity levels showing a trend toward higher methylation (19% standardized mean difference) and higher methylation associated with a 30% reduced breast cancer risk, though neither association reached statistical significance overall. Subgroup analyses revealed that the protective pathway became clearer when examining long-term physical activity patterns and prospective cohort studies specifically, where both associations were statistically significant. This is the first systematic review to examine the complete biological pathway linking physical activity to breast cancer prevention through epigenetic mechanisms, suggesting that exercise may alter DNA methylation patterns in ways that protect against cancer development—a finding that could help explain how physical activity exerts its well-established cancer-preventive effects at the molecular level.
2018
Oncol Rep
This study investigated whether exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalate metabolites affects breast cancer risk through epigenetic changes in the ADAM33 gene, which plays a role in cancer progression. The researchers conducted a case-control study with 44 breast cancer patients and 22 controls, analyzing ADAM33 gene methylation patterns in blood samples and measuring urinary concentrations of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. They found that certain phthalate metabolites (MEHHP, MECPP, MEOHP) were positively associated with increased methylation of the ADAM33 gene, which was linked to higher gene expression levels. Surprisingly, the study suggests these phthalate metabolites may have a protective effect against breast cancer by increasing ADAM33 methylation and expression, contrary to the typical expectation that endocrine disruptors increase cancer risk.
2018
Environ Int
A study of 54 female cashiers in South Korea found that handling thermal paper receipts without gloves doubled their urinary BPA levels during work shifts, but wearing gloves completely prevented this increase in exposure. Higher BPA levels were associated with elevated fasting insulin and insulin resistance, markers of metabolic dysfunction that can lead to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The findings demonstrate that cashiers face significant occupational BPA exposure from receipt handling and that simple protective measures like wearing gloves can effectively eliminate this exposure route, offering an immediate and practical intervention to protect workers’ health.
2017
Molec Cell Endocrinol
This study examines the role of environmental estrogen-like endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EEDs) in breast cancer development. EEDs are synthetic compounds that mimic estrogen, and the ones being studied in this paper include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalates. The results of the study show that of the EEDs tested, only one type of PCB, PCB138, had a strong association with the formation of breast cancer, where as phthalates (and it metabolites) but and BPA showed no strong correlation. Additionaly, the researchers identify that these EEDs promote the proliferation of breast cancer cells, induce epigenetic changes that may increase susceptibility to cancer, as well as alter developmental pathways during critical windows of breast development.
2016
Cancer Med
A review examining breast cancer disparities in African American women—who now have similar incidence rates to non-Hispanic White women but significantly higher mortality—found growing evidence linking hair product use to breast cancer risk through exposure to estrogen-like chemicals and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The review identified three converging lines of evidence: environmental estrogen and EDC exposures increase breast cancer risk, these chemicals are present in personal care products including hair products, and certain hair products used disproportionately by African American women may contribute to elevated breast cancer risk in this population. The findings highlight an understudied environmental justice issue and call for additional research using community-collaborative approaches to better understand how culturally specific beauty practices may contribute to health disparities, representing what researchers term the potential “cost of beauty.”
2015
PLOS One
A recent study investigated the potential carcinogen 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) in popular beverages colored with caramel, revealing potential cancer risks. Using data from California, where Proposition 65 enforces warning labels on drinks exceeding safe 4-MEI levels, researchers found that 4-MEI concentrations varied by brand and region. For example, Malta Goya had the highest 4-MEI levels, while Coca-Cola had the lowest. Regular consumption of certain sodas could result in daily 4-MEI exposure above safe limits.
2015
Carcinogenesis
A review examining the intersection of environmental toxicants, immune function, and cancer development argues that common chemicals like bisphenol A, atrazine, and phthalates can disrupt the delicate balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory immune responses, potentially contributing to tumor development through immune system dysfunction. The authors highlight that while the role of immunity in cancer is well-established, research on how environmental chemicals affect immune cells as co-factors in cancer causation remains underdeveloped compared to studies on autoimmunity and allergies. The review calls for increased research using systems biology approaches to better understand how chemical exposures disturb inflammatory pathways and immune molecules involved in tumor-associated inflammation, arguing that chemically induced immune perturbations represent an important but understudied mechanism of environmental carcinogenesis.
2014
Environ Health Perspect
This review of exposure biomarkers for chemicals potentially linked to breast cancer identified methods for 102 chemicals causing mammary tumors in rodents, finding biomarkers for nearly 75% of them, with human exposure biomarkers existing for 62 chemicals (45 measured in non-occupationally exposed populations) and the CDC tracking 23 of them. Among rodent mammary carcinogens with >50% population detection frequency were PAHs (98%), methyleugenol (98%), PFOA (>50%), chlordane (>50%), acrylamide (>50%), and benzene (>50%), indicating near-universal exposure to multiple mammary carcinogens, with several additional chemicals showing >50% detection of urinary metabolites including ethylene oxide, acrylonitrile, fenvalerate, and vinyl chloride (71-75%). The study found consistent carcinogenicity between humans and rodents for many chemicals, though limited data exists for direct effects in humans, and emphasizes the availability of biomonitoring tools and resources to advance breast cancer prevention efforts. The findings underscore that populations are ubiquitously exposed to multiple known mammary carcinogens simultaneously, highlighting the urgent need for biomonitoring programs to assess mixed exposures and inform prevention strategies targeting modifiable environmental risk factors for breast cancer.
2014
Aging Dis
The following review article described how exposure to EDCs during early development can lead to adverse health outcomes later in life through epigenetic mechanisms based on existing studies. The article emphasizes that exposure to EDCs during critical developmental periods such as in utero and early childhood, can have lasting effects on health since, during these periods, the body’s systems are particularly vulnerable to exposures. Additionally, the article finds a link between early-life exposure to EDCs and increased risk of various health issues later on in life, including metabolic disorders and cancers. The suspected mechanism by which these chemicals do this is thought to be mediated by epigenetic changes, which are changes to gene expression without altering the DNA. Therefore, the article emphasizes understanding how exposure during such sensitive periods in development can pose such drastic problems later on in life.
2013
Green Chemistry
Scientists have developed TiPED (Tiered Protocol for Endocrine Disruption), a voluntary five-tier testing system designed to help chemists identify hormone-disrupting properties in new chemicals during the design phase—before they enter consumer products—ranging from computer-based predictions to cell and animal studies. The protocol was created by experts in green chemistry and environmental health to broadly test whether new chemicals can mimic or block hormones or interfere with hormone signaling, which is critical for preventing endocrine disruption that can contribute to diseases like breast cancer. Testing of six known endocrine disruptors with different mechanisms of action successfully identified all of them, demonstrating the protocol’s effectiveness, though the system will continue evolving as scientific understanding advances. This tool represents an important shift toward preventing chemical hazards at the design stage rather than discovering them years later after widespread human exposure, which could significantly reduce public health risks including breast cancer.
2012
Environ Health Perspect
This study analyzed 213 everyday products, including cosmetics, cleaners, and personal care items, for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and asthma-related compounds. Testing revealed 55 chemicals, with fragranced products and sunscreens containing the highest levels. Vinyl products were also found to contain significant amounts of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a known EDC. Many harmful chemicals were not listed on product labels, limiting consumer ability to avoid them. These results highlight the presence of potentially harmful chemicals in commonly used products, raising concerns about their widespread use in household and personal care items.
2011
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely produced chemical used in plastics and food container linings, with frequent human exposure due to its leaching into food and beverages. BPA, a known endocrine disruptor, was initially deemed a weak estrogen but has shown potency comparable to estradiol, a form of estrogen, shown to affect multiple hormonal pathways. Studies on rodents reveal adverse effects at levels below and at the current acceptable daily intake, raising concerns about human health impacts about concentration. BPA’s estrogenic effects highlight the importance of investigating BPA’s complex, widespread impacts on health.
2024
Endocrinology
The researchers in this study aimed to identify certain environmental chemicals that may contribute to the trend of earlier puberty onset in females by stimulating 2 key receptors. These receptors being investigated are kisseptin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptors in the hypothalamus which are highly involved in triggering puberty in females. The study identified musk ambrette, a synthetic fragrance commonly used in personal care products like perfumes, soaps, and detergents, as an agonist of KISS1R and triggered the release of Gnrh1, which could be a cause of early puberty as well. Additionally, agonists of GnRHR were investigated and found to be mainly from a group of cholinergic agonists with structures similar to methacholine. These agonists upregulated Fos, Jun, and Egr1 genes in the downstream pathway of GnRHR. Agonists such as musk ambrette and those that stimulate GnRHR may therefore contribute to early puberty due to their stimulation of key pathways involved in puberty.
2024
Water Res
A pilot study collected tapwater samples from low-income California communities in five regions (Gold Country, San Francisco Bay Area, Central Valley, and southeast Los Angeles) with suspected water quality challenges and elevated breast cancer rates, analyzing 251 organic chemicals and 32 inorganic constituents. The five most frequently detected contaminants were barium (100% of samples), disinfection byproducts including total trihalomethanes (90%), bromodichloromethane (86.7%), and chloroform (85%), and copper (95%), with mixtures of regulated and unregulated contaminants varying by region, water source, and public water system size. Multiple exceedances of health-based Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) were observed—including 54 samples exceeding zero tolerance for total trihalomethanes, 52 for bromodichloromethane, 11 for lead, and 10 each for PFOA and PFOS—along with enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) exceedances for total trihalomethanes (3 samples) and PFAS compounds (9-10 samples for PFOA/PFOS). The findings underscore critical water quality concerns in socially disadvantaged communities and provide a foundation for future studies examining potential linkages between tapwater contaminant mixtures and breast cancer rates in vulnerable California populations facing compounded environmental stressors.
2024
Chemosphere
When tea is made using a polypropylene teabag, it could be releasing over 1 billion tiny plastic particles into every milliliter of your tea. A typical cup of tea is about 240 mL, so that could be nearly 300 billion particles per cup. An experimental study simulating tea preparation from three commercial teabags found substantial release of micro/nanoplastics (MNPLs), with teabags made of nylon-6, polypropylene, and cellulose releasing 8.18×10⁶ to 1.20×10⁹ nanoparticles per mL (particle sizes 136-244 nm), along with microfibers. In vitro exposure of three human intestinal cell lines (Caco-2, HT29, HT29-MTX) to 100 μg/mL of these nanoparticles for 24 hours revealed significant cell-type-specific uptake patterns: polypropylene nanoparticles were preferentially taken up by mucus-secreting HT29-MTX cells, cellulose nanoparticles by HT29 and HT29-MTX cells, and nylon-6 nanoparticles by Caco-2 cells. These findings highlight that everyday items like teabags represent a significant, previously underappreciated source of human MNPL exposure beyond environmental contamination, with billions of nanoparticles released per serving that are readily internalized by intestinal cells, underscoring the urgent need to investigate potential health effects of dietary plastic exposure from food packaging and preparation materials.
2024
Environ Sci Technol
Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)—a persistent and mobile chemical produced when many PFAS, fluorinated gases, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals break down—is accumulating irreversibly in rain, soil, drinking water, human blood, and food at concentrations orders of magnitude higher than other PFAS. TFA exhibits reproductive and liver toxicity in mammals and bioaccumulates readily in plants, yet ecotoxicity data remain limited, particularly for terrestrial ecosystems. Due to its extreme persistence, ongoing emissions from multiple sources, and irreversibly increasing concentrations, TFA may represent a “planetary boundary threat”—a substance reaching global-scale exposure levels that could trigger irreversible disruptions to vital Earth systems. The authors call for binding regulatory actions to reduce emissions of TFA and the many precursor chemicals that transform into TFA in the environment.
2023
Gut Microbes
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide, works by blocking a pathway that plants use to make certain amino acids—a pathway that humans don’t have—but this same pathway exists in gut bacteria, raising concerns about the herbicide’s effects on the human microbiome. Growing evidence suggests that Glyphosate exposure may disrupt the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, potentially inhibiting their growth or altering their function, which could have important health implications given the gut microbiome’s significant role in overall wellbeing. This review highlights the need for further research into how Glyphosate exposure affects gut bacteria composition and function, as disruptions to the microbiome have been linked to various health disorders.
2022
Toxicol Rep
This study focused on arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) being in baby foods due to their known health risks, such as developmental, reproductive, and carcinogenic effects. Arsenic exposure comes mainly from rice-based products and could cause significant health risks. Lead was found in some grains and root vegetables, indicating potential exposure to health effects. The study concluded that exposure to these metals from baby foods had been found to be at safe levels. However, an exception was made for rice products because of arsenic natural abundance in soil. Even though levels of these metals in baby foods have been found to be under safe levels, monitoring of infant food should be continued for these metals and others.
2022
PLOS Med
A large French study following nearly 103,000 adults for nearly 8 years found that people who consumed higher amounts of artificial sweeteners—particularly aspartame and acesulfame-K found in diet sodas and many processed foods—had a 13-15% increased risk of cancer overall, with specific increases in breast cancer and obesity-related cancers. The research, which carefully tracked detailed dietary records and controlled for multiple lifestyle factors, showed aspartame was associated with a 22% higher breast cancer risk among higher consumers compared to non-consumers. While the study has some limitations including potential confounding factors, these findings add to growing concerns about artificial sweetener safety and support the need for regulatory agencies to re-evaluate the safety of these widely used food additives found in thousands of products worldwide.
2022
BMC Med
A large UK study of 472,377 people followed for over 11 years found that vegetarians had 14% lower overall cancer risk compared to regular meat-eaters, with similar reductions seen in low meat-eaters (2% lower) and fish-eaters (10% lower). Vegetarian postmenopausal women had 18% lower breast cancer risk, though this benefit appeared to be largely explained by vegetarians having lower body weight, while men who ate fish or followed vegetarian diets had 20-31% lower prostate cancer risk. Low meat consumption was associated with 9% lower colorectal cancer risk, particularly in men, supporting previous evidence that meat intake increases cancer risk, though the study couldn’t definitively determine whether the observed benefits reflect direct dietary effects or other lifestyle factors associated with these eating patterns.
2020
Environ Health Perspect
This article focuses on microplastics (MP’s), their effect on marine life and routes of human exposure. MP human exposure usually occurs through inhalation or ingestion which comes from contaminated fish and environment. MP’s are concerning because they spread either as pellets/by products or through degradation and fragmentation of plastic products. When this occurs, and reaches water and marine life, they then become contaminated with this plastic and degrade further, and leave forever chemicals as well. Due to the complex and persistent nature of these chemicals, they remain in organ systems of humans for long periods of time. It is important to remember that in small amounts they may not cause many effects but as these chemicals accumulate, it can cause risk to reproductive and hormonal issues.
2020
Reprod Toxicol
This study indicates that 4-methylimidazole (4-MI), a byproduct found in caramel-colored foods and beverages, may pose reproductive and developmental risks. Research on rats showed that 4-MI exposure led to reproductive delays, decreased sperm health, and abnormal tissue development in the prostate, testis, and reproductive organs at higher doses. Concerns are growing as 4-MI is prevalent in foods like soda and barbecue sauces, widely consumed by all age groups. With no established safe exposure level, findings highlight the importance of monitoring caramel color additives and considering potential risks for human health, especially regarding reproductive well-being.
2019
Sci Total Environ
A comprehensive review examines enzyme-mediated bioremediation—particularly using laccases and other oxidoreductases, hydrolases, and transferases—as a compelling strategy for degrading highly toxic and carcinogenic restricted use pesticides (RUPs) that accumulate in non-target organisms including humans, aquatic life, and microbes through modern agricultural practices and environmental pollution. While native enzymes often face limitations in industrial applications due to high cost and susceptibility, immobilization on support materials enhances stability, reusability, activity, specificity, and enables continuous system operation for more effective removal of these refractory compounds. The review covers pesticide sources, environmental occurrence, ecosystem and human health impacts, and specifically highlights laccase’s exceptional efficiency, specificity, eco-sustainability, and broad substrate range for pesticide degradation and detoxification, while proposing that deploying robust laccase-assisted biocatalytic systems will improve understanding of pesticide persistence and facilitate development of sustainable processes to remediate contaminated environmental matrices and reduce human exposure to these hazardous emerging contaminants.
2018
Environ Int
A study analyzing 65 seafood samples (195 analyses including raw and cooked preparations) from 11 European countries for pharmaceuticals (PhACs) and endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs)—chemicals linked to reproductive system effects, metabolic disorders, breast cancer pathogenesis, and antimicrobial resistance—found that while pharmaceuticals were mostly undetectable, EDCs were quantified in the majority of samples, with cooking by steaming significantly increasing their levels 2- to 46-fold. Human exposure assessment focused on three prevalent EDCs (bisphenol A, methylparaben, and triclosan) revealed that the Spanish population had the highest exposure through seafood consumption among the 11 countries studied, though exposures remained below current toxicological reference values. These findings highlight that commercially available seafood in the European Union market contains detectable levels of endocrine-disrupting contaminants that concentrate during cooking, raising concerns about cumulative dietary exposure to these compounds through this widely consumed protein source, particularly in populations with high seafood consumption patterns.
2007
Cancer
A comprehensive review found that while laboratory studies have identified numerous environmental chemicals that cause breast tumors in animals or mimic estrogen, human epidemiological evidence is strongest for PAHs (found in air pollution and grilled foods) and PCBs (banned industrial chemicals), particularly in women with certain genetic variations affecting how their bodies process these chemicals and hormones. Evidence linking dioxins and organic solvents to breast cancer is limited but suggestive, while many chemicals identified as mammary carcinogens in animal studies have never been investigated in human populations due to challenges in measuring past exposures and the decades-long delay between exposure and cancer diagnosis. The review argues that given these methodological limitations in human studies, policymakers should rely more heavily on animal and laboratory evidence to develop regulations that reduce chemical exposures, as waiting for definitive human proof may unnecessarily delay prevention strategies that could reduce breast cancer rates.