Research Results
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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
Mol Cell Endocrinol
A review examining parabens—one of the most widely used preservatives worldwide in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals—found that these easily absorbed chemicals are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can disrupt hormonal homeostasis and cause multidirectional health implications affecting body fitness and function. The review summarizes current literature on paraben properties, occurrence, metabolism, and particularly their influence on the human endocrine system, emphasizing the importance of assessing their safety given their ubiquitous use and absorption. With parabens now recognized as EDCs capable of disrupting endocrine function, the authors highlight concerns about widespread population exposure through everyday consumer products and the need for precise assessment of their health impacts on human physiology.
2018
Environ Res
A study of women from the Western New York Exposures and Breast Cancer Study examined associations between early life air pollution exposure (total suspended particulates and traffic emissions as proxies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and DNA methylation of nine genes in breast tumor tissue, finding nominally significant associations including higher TSP at first birth associated with altered SCGB3A1 (OR=0.48) and SYK (OR=1.86) methylation, and traffic emissions at menarche associated with increased SYK methylation (OR=2.37), though none remained significant after multiple comparison adjustment. These preliminary findings provide suggestive evidence that ambient air pollution exposure during critical developmental windows (birth, menarche, first birth) may influence epigenetic methylation patterns of tumor suppressor genes in breast tissue, potentially representing a mechanism linking early life environmental exposures to later breast cancer risk. Larger studies assessing more methylation sites are warranted to confirm whether air pollution exposure during vulnerable life stages causes lasting epigenetic changes that contribute to breast cancer development.
2018
Scand J Work Environ Health
A comprehensive review of seven meta-analyses published 2013-2016 examining night shift work and breast cancer risk (collectively including 30 cohort and case-control studies from 1996-2016) found that pooled effect sizes for ever/never night shift work exposure ranged from 0.99 (95% CI: 0.95-1.03, N=10 cohort studies) to 1.40 (95% CI: 1.13-1.73, N=9 high-quality studies), with most showing statistically significant between-study heterogeneity but no evidence of publication bias, while estimates for duration, frequency, and cumulative exposure were scarce and mostly non-significant. Meta-analyses of cohort studies, Asian populations, and more fully-adjusted studies generally yielded lower pooled estimates than case-control, European/American, or minimally-adjusted studies, and AMSTAR 2 quality assessment revealed only one meta-analysis was strong in critical quality domains. The findings show fairly consistent modest elevations in breast cancer risk for ever/never night shift work exposure but inconclusive results for other shift work metrics, highlighting the need for future evaluations incorporating high-quality meta-analyses with better individual study quality appraisal to clarify the relationship between specific night shift work characteristics (duration, frequency, timing) and breast cancer risk.
2018
BMC Cancer
A prospective analysis of 657 incident breast cancer cases from the EPIC-Germany Study (n=27,012) with immunohistochemical characterization of tumors by six markers (ER, PR, HER2, Ki67, Bcl-2, p53) found that among postmenopausal women not using hormone therapy (HT), higher BMI was significantly associated with increased risk of less aggressive tumors characterized by ER+, PR+, HER2-, low Ki67, Bcl-2+, and p53- status (HR per 5 kg/m²: 1.44; 95% CI: 1.10-1.90) but not more aggressive subtypes, while among postmenopausal HT users, BMI showed a significant inverse association with less aggressive tumors (HR per 5 kg/m²: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.50-0.94). Among pre- and perimenopausal women, no significant linear associations emerged, though the highest BMI tertile showed significantly lower risk of less aggressive tumors (HR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.33-0.93). These findings suggest that obesity’s relationship with breast cancer is highly nuanced, being associated with increased risk of less aggressive, hormone-responsive tumors in postmenopausal women not using HT, paradoxically protective in HT users and younger women, highlighting the complex interplay between adiposity, endogenous and exogenous hormones, menopausal status, and tumor biology that requires replication in larger pooled prospective studies.
2018
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev
A hospital-based case-control study of 762 women (381 breast cancer cases confirmed by histopathology, 381 controls) at six cancer-referral hospitals across five Indonesian provinces examined the association between oral contraceptive use and breast cancer risk. Compared to women who never used oral contraceptives, those using oral contraceptives for <6 years had nearly double the breast cancer risk (OR=1.93; 95% CI: 1.23-3.03), while those using oral contraceptives for ≥6 years had nearly triple the risk (OR=2.90; 95% CI: 1.65-5.09), demonstrating a dose-response relationship. These findings indicate that oral contraceptive use increases breast cancer risk in Indonesian women in a duration-dependent manner, with longer use associated with progressively higher risk, adding to evidence from other populations about the relationship between hormonal contraceptive use and breast cancer, though the relatively high effect sizes and hospital-based case-control design warrant careful interpretation and replication in prospective cohort studies.
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.
2017
Sci Rep
An experimental study in mice using fluorescent polystyrene microplastics (5 μm and 20 μm diameter) found that microplastics accumulated in liver, kidney, and gut with tissue distribution and kinetics strongly dependent on particle size. Exposure induced disturbances in energy and lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and altered blood biomarkers of neurotoxicity, as revealed through biochemical analyses and metabolomic profiling. This study provides new evidence for adverse health consequences of microplastic exposure in mammals, demonstrating tissue-specific accumulation patterns and systemic metabolic disruptions, though information about microplastic toxicity in mammals remains limited compared to marine organisms despite the ubiquitous environmental presence of these particles in oceans, rivers, soil, food, and even table salt.
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
This study explores the relationship between chemical carcinogens, cellular senescence, and the process of cellular immortalization, which is a sign of cancer development. The article discusses how certain chemicals can disrupt normal cellular processes, leading to cellular senescence, the process where cells stop dividing but remain metabolically active. This thereby enables the progression of cancer. These chemicals interfere with key regulatory pathways, such as those involving the p53 and pRb proteins, which are crucial for maintaining the balance between cell division and arrest. The authors emphasize that exposure to certain chemicals can lead to disruptions to cellular senescence pathways.
2015
Carcinogenesis
This study explores the linkage between environmental chemical exposures and cellular resistance to cell death, a carcinogenic trait. The researchers in this study specifically investigate BPA, chlorothalonil, dibutyl phthalate, and more because of their disruptive effects that may be involved in these carcinogenic pathways. The researchers found that arsenic interferes with cellular signaling pathways and induces oxidative stress, leading to impaired apoptosis; dioxins bind to aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AHRs), which alters gene expression and disrupts normal cell death processes; BPA mimics the estrogen hormone, affecting hormonal balance and promoting cell survival pathways that inhibit cell death. By allowing cells to evade cell death, these environmental chemicals can promote the survival of cells with genetic mutations and therefore increase the risk of cancer development.
2015
Environ Health Perspect
This study investigates how low concentrations of Bisphenol A (BPA) affect DNA integrity and cell proliferation in breast cells, focusing on the involvement of the oncogene c-Myc. They found that exposure to low doses of BPA resulted in significant DNA damage in estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα)-negative mammary cells, meaning that BPA can promote cancer in ways independent of standard estrogen receptor pathways. Additionally, BPA exposure led to the upregulation of c-Myc, which is a gene known to regulate cell proliferation and death., and the study did observe enhanced proliferation of ERα-negative mammary cells upon BPA exposure. This suggests that BPA may promote cancer pathways through c-Myc activation. This was then confirmed when the researchers silenced c-Myc gene expression and found that oncogenic effects in the presence of BPA were decreased. Overall, these findings raise concerns about BPA’s potential role in breast cancer formation, even at low exposure levels.
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
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.
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.
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.
2025
Food Res Int
A study analyzing 60 infant formula products sold in Brazil detected dimethoate, an endocrine-disrupting insecticide, in five samples, with one soy-based formula exceeding the legal residue limit of 10 µg/kg established to protect infants under 1 year old. While estimated daily intakes from the contaminated formulas were within acceptable safety limits and unlikely to cause immediate health concerns, the findings are notable because infants are particularly vulnerable to endocrine-disrupting chemicals during critical developmental windows in the first months of life. The research highlights the need for continued monitoring of pesticide residues in infant formula, as exposure to endocrine disruptors during early development can have long-lasting effects on hormonal systems and potentially increase risks for diseases like breast cancer later in life.
2025
Sci Total Environ
A review of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in aquatic environments examined two key questions: whether EDCs can impact fish reproductive health and survival, and whether they are actually affecting wild fish populations. Laboratory evidence strongly supports that aquatic EDCs can impair reproductive health in various fish species, but evidence that environmental EDC exposure is actually impacting reproductive success and sustainability of indigenous fish populations in their natural habitats remains limited and less convincing. The authors note that this evidence gap may reflect the critical need for reliable in situ methods to assess fish reproduction and population structure changes in EDC-exposed populations, emphasizing that linking endocrine disruption and reproductive impairment to ecologically relevant impacts on wild fish population sustainability remains an open scientific challenge with few exceptions.
2025
Int J Cancer
The “estrobolome”—gut bacteria involved in processing estrogens and related compounds—has been theorized to influence breast cancer risk by affecting hormone levels, but a comprehensive review found limited and inconsistent evidence linking specific bacterial species to breast cancer. Only two bacteria (Escherichia coli and Roseburia inulinivorans) showed both functional relevance and differences between breast cancer patients and healthy controls, suggesting that either measurement methods need improvement or that broader ecological changes in the gut microbiome are more important than specific estrogen-processing bacteria. The review calls for future studies using advanced techniques like metabolomics and transcriptomics alongside microbiome sequencing to better understand whether and how gut bacteria influence breast cancer through hormone pathways, while accounting for lifestyle and clinical factors that may modify these relationships.
2025
Environ Res
A study analyzing 156 commercially available prenatal vitamins, 19 folate/folic acid supplements, and 9 prescription prenatals found widespread contamination with heavy metals and phthalates: 83% of commercial prenatals contained detectable lead (15% exceeding California’s 0.5 μg/daily threshold), 73% contained cadmium, 25% contained DEHP, and 13% contained DBP, with higher contamination associated with calcium and iron content and caplet/capsule/tablet formulations. Prescription prenatals also showed contamination, with 7 of 9 containing detectable lead or cadmium and 33% exceeding the lead threshold, while folate/folic acid supplements showed lower contamination levels. These findings reveal that pregnant women—a population particularly vulnerable to environmental chemical exposures—are being exposed to lead, cadmium, and endocrine-disrupting phthalates through the very supplements intended to support healthy pregnancy. Since prenatal supplementation remains critical for fetal development, pregnant women should prioritize products with third-party verification seals (such as USP, NSF International, or ConsumerLab) which confirm label accuracy, purity, and manufacturing standards, and clear, enforceable regulations requiring frequent testing and strict contamination limits are urgently needed.
2024
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
A longitudinal study of 549 women with 2,252 repeated anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) measurements over the 10 years preceding final menstrual period found that elevated arsenic levels were associated with a 32.1% decline in AMH concentrations and elevated mercury levels with a 40.7% decline over the decade, while elevated cadmium and mercury showed significant per-year declines of 9.0% and 7.3% respectively. The findings indicate that higher exposure to heavy metals—particularly arsenic, cadmium, and mercury—is correlated with accelerated depletion of ovarian reserve (remaining viable eggs) in women approaching menopause. This study suggests that environmental heavy metal exposure may contribute to earlier reproductive aging and diminished ovarian function.
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
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.
2024
Mol Nutr Food Res
A case-control study of 122 breast cancer patients and 56 healthy women in Southern Spain found that despite higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet, women with breast cancer had elevated body mass index (BMI), higher metabolic syndrome markers (glucose, cholesterol), and distinct gut microbiota alterations compared to controls. The most significant microbiota difference was a higher Bacillota/Bacteroidota ratio in breast cancer patients, a characteristic typically associated with metabolic dysfunction. The paradoxical finding—better diet quality alongside metabolic abnormalities—suggests that lifestyle changes around diagnosis or the influence of BMI may have masked the typical metabolic benefits of Mediterranean diet adherence, highlighting the complex interplay between diet, metabolism, gut microbiota, and breast cancer risk.
2024
BMC Cancer
A Mendelian randomization study using GWAS data from the MiBioGen consortium (18,340 samples across 24 global populations analyzing 211 gut bacterial taxa) and breast cancer data from FinnGen and Biobank Japan identified population-specific causal relationships between gut microbiota and breast cancer risk. In Europeans, Erysipelatoclostridium increased risk (OR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.08-1.36) while Coriobacteriia/Coriobacteriales/Coriobacteriaceae decreased risk (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.62-0.93); in East Asians, Eubacterium ruminantium increased risk (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.06-1.50) while Porphyromonadaceae (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.16-0.60) and Ruminococcaceae (OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.51-0.90) decreased risk, though the latter two had limited statistical power. These findings demonstrate that gut microbiota may causally influence breast cancer risk differently across populations, suggesting potential for developing targeted, ethnicity-appropriate prevention and treatment strategies based on microbiome modulation.
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.
2023
Environ Sci Poll Res
A study of vegetables sold in Pakistan found that 80% of eggplant and 69% of cauliflower samples were contaminated with endocrine-disrupting pesticides, with 20% of eggplant exceeding EU safety limits and particularly high levels of chlorpyrifos (an androgen blocker) and cyhalothrin-lambda (a thyroid hormone inhibitor). The acute health risk from eating contaminated cauliflower exceeded safe limits by more than 200% for both men and women, meaning a single serving could deliver more than twice the acceptable daily dose of these hormone-disrupting chemicals. While estimated long-term (chronic) health risks were low for most population groups, the high acute exposure is concerning because these pesticides can interfere with hormone function and potentially increase risks for hormone-related diseases like breast cancer, especially with repeated exposures over time.
2023
Sci Total Environ
In a small case-control study of 150 women with breast cancer and age-matched controls, all of whom had never smoked, cobalt was inversely associated with breast cancer risk (OR=.33, 95%CI;0.12-.91). Other metals (cadmium, chromium, manganese, lead, and thallium) were not associated with breast cancer.
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
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.
2022
Food Chem
This study assessed the exposure of the French population to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) from pesticides and phytoestrogens in fruits, vegetables, and soy-based foods. Among 379 pesticides used in France, 70 were identified as potential EDCs, leading to an estimated daily exposure of 509 µg from pesticides, with anti-androgens as the most significant contributors. Additionally, soy consumers had an estimated daily intake of 6,915 µg of isoflavones (plant-based phytoestrogens), while non-soy consumers had 1,930 µg.
2022
Sci Total Environ
A comprehensive review of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in water systems found that these emerging contaminants pose significant health risks to humans and aquatic life, yet conventional water treatment processes fail to remove them effectively and no regulatory discharge limits currently exist. The review examined various treatment approaches (physical, chemical, biological, and hybrid methods) and identified agricultural waste-based adsorbents as a promising, low-cost, and sustainable solution for efficiently removing EDCs from water. Research findings indicate that these abundantly available agri-waste materials can effectively capture EDCs, offering an economical alternative to conventional treatment methods, though the review also highlights ongoing challenges and the need for further development of these technologies to address the growing threat of endocrine-disrupting pollution in water supplies.
2022
Metabolites
This study investigates the effects of the insecticide chlorpyrifos on rice plants. High concentrations of chlorpyrifos inhibited growth, increased oxidative stress, and led to lipid peroxidation, as indicated by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Antioxidant enzyme activities increased, and protein synthesis was negatively impacted. Significant changes in amino acids and organic acids, including increased proline and glutathione, were observed, suggesting a stress response. Just as chlorpyrifos induces oxidative stress in plants, similar mechanisms may occur in humans, leading to cellular damage and increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer.
2022
Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med
A cross-sectional study of 556 U.S. children (mean age 6.33 years) found no association between regular exposure to lavender or tea tree essential oils and endocrine disruption, with prevalence of endocrine disorders (0.016) and rates of precocious puberty, delayed puberty, growth hormone deficiency, and hypothyroidism all consistent with population norms, and no cases of prepubertal gynecomastia identified in either exposed or unexposed groups (risk ratio = 2.796; 95% CI: 0.352-22.163, p = .458). This first epidemiological study addressing concerns about these popular essential oils in pediatric personal care products found that children regularly exposed to lavender or tea tree essential oils experienced the same risk of endocrine disorders as unexposed children, providing no evidence for the previously proposed link between these oils and pediatric endocrine disruption.
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
Metabolites
This study used advanced mass spectrometry to track how the pesticide chlorpyrifos breaks down in wheat plants after being sprayed during the flowering stage, finding that chlorpyrifos residues decreased relatively quickly (with a half-life of 2-5 days) across different plant parts. The pesticide metabolizes into 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (3,5,6-TCP), a potentially harmful compound that initially increases in wheat tissues before gradually degrading, peaking 3-11 days after application. The researchers recommend that 3,5,6-TCP be included in food safety regulations and dietary risk assessments because it persists in wheat and poses potential health threats to humans and animals. This finding is particularly important for establishing appropriate waiting periods between pesticide application and harvest to minimize consumer exposure.
2021
Environ Health
This case-cohort study within the EPIC-Spain cohort assessed serum bisphenol A (BPA) levels in relation to breast and prostate cancer risk among 4,812 participants. While no significant association was found between BPA and breast cancer, increased BPA levels were associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer.
2021
Food Chem
An umbrella review analyzing 72 meta-analyses found that red meat consumption was associated with increased risk of 10 different cancer types (including breast cancer), while processed meat was linked to 11 cancer types, with both showing consistent dose-dependent increases in risk. Specifically, eating an additional 100 grams of red meat daily (about 3.5 ounces) was associated with 11-51% higher cancer risk, while an extra 50 grams of processed meat daily (equivalent to about 1-2 slices of deli meat or one hot dog) increased cancer risk by 8-72% depending on cancer type. The evidence showed no cancer risk level at which red or processed meat consumption was beneficial, suggesting that reducing intake of these meats could be an important dietary strategy for cancer prevention, including breast cancer.
2021
Environ Int
This study aggregated the data from eight cohort studies from six countries. Across the studies, over 253,000 people were included. They found a lower risk of breast cancer among women who worked in agriculture: meta-SIR =.79, 95%CI, .71-.88.
2021
BMC Cancer
This comprehensive analysis of 36 studies involving over 1 million women found that overall dairy consumption has a modest protective effect against breast cancer, particularly for hormone receptor-positive types (estrogen receptor-positive and progesterone receptor-positive breast cancers). The protective effects varied by dairy type and menopausal status: fermented dairy products (like yogurt) reduced breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, while low-fat dairy products protected premenopausal women, whereas high-fat dairy showed a trend toward increased risk. The findings suggest that dairy products can be part of a breast cancer prevention strategy, but the specific type of dairy consumed and a woman’s menopausal status matter—emphasizing that not all dairy products have the same effect on breast cancer risk.
2021
Environ Pollut
A study comparing endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) contamination in Indian food found that while all tested foods—especially dairy and meat—contained organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, PBDEs, and dioxins, overall dietary exposure levels were comparable to or lower than those in Europe despite weaker regulations in India. Urban Delhi markets had higher contamination than peri-urban areas, with organochlorine pesticides being the primary contaminants, yet Indians’ lower meat consumption meant their total EDC exposure was similar to Europeans’ despite some European foods having higher chemical residues. The findings highlight that EDC contamination is a global food system issue driven by international trade of food and animal feed, underscoring the need for internationally harmonized standards on EDC limits in food to protect public health worldwide, as chemical exposures that increase risks for diseases like breast cancer cross borders through the global food supply.
2020
Epidemiol
This study of Norwegian offshore petroleum workers found that both male and female workers had increased overall cancer risk (7% and 13% increased risk, respectively), with particularly notable elevations for specific cancers. Male workers showed more than double the risk of pleural cancer (138% increase) and male breast cancer (118% increase), plus a 20% increased risk of prostate cancer, while female workers had 62% increased risk of melanoma and nearly quadruple the risk of acute myeloid leukemia (276% increase). These findings suggest that occupational exposures in the offshore petroleum industry—including potential exposure to chemicals, radiation, shift work, and other workplace hazards—may contribute to elevated cancer risks across multiple organ sites in both men and women.
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.