Deborah Harrell wrote:
>
> I meant to post this a bit ago; the in-article link to
> _The State of the Evidence_ appears a little
> over-the-top, but it does present some valid points
> and concerns. I do think that further research into
> cancer/environmental toxins is more than warranted.
>
> > ** Rising breast cancer rate fuels environmental
> > concerns **
> > New breast cancer numbers have prompted activists to
> > demand more research into the possible role of
> > environmental factors.
>
> http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_email.asp?/news/824495.asp
>
> "Forget the San Andreas Fault. The news that Marin
> County, Calif., had seen a skyrocketing increase in
> the incidence of breast cancer unleashed an earthquake
> of concerns.
> Breast cancer jumped by 72 percent among Marin
> women ages 46 to 64 during the 1990s, according to a
> May report in the journal Breast Cancer Research."
The problem with Marin County is that the demographics of the women
living there are consistent with a higher rate of breast cancer than the
US in general. If you factor out the demographic skew, there's nothing
to suggest that there's something special in the Marin County area that
would be an environmental cause.
If there is a nationwide increase in breast cancer, or increase in a
particular region that cannot be accounted for by demographics, then you
start looking at the environment.
Now, the article went on to state:
Among the findings: Common pollutants, such as benzene, a
compound found in car exhaust, are linked to breast tumors, and
people who move to industrialized counties suddenly face a
higher breast cancer risk within one generation.
Looking at pollutants such as benzene is probably a good idea. But
another factor that may be involved is diet. Someone living in a
country where the diet is markedly different from the typical US diet
may have reduced risk of some health problems, and relocating to the US
and then adopting a typical US diet may contribute to health problems.
I've heard of studies indicating that when the diet of a region changes
due to US influences, certain types of health problems increase. Breast
cancer may be one of these. (I'm sorry I don't have enough information
to cite a website, and not enough energy to search for anything right
now. But I'm interested in the subject, and will happily read any
further contributions to this thread.)
Julia
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