Sun Screen, Cancer and You: Buyer be Ware
Should sunscreen be used for primary protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays? Seems like a simple question doesn’t it?
Not necessarily.
Recently, The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), a non-profit organization with the mission of using the power of public information to protect public health and the environment, came out with a very detailed report concerning sunscreen safety.
According to the report, many of the ingredients in sunscreen may be potentially hazardous as well as carcinogenic especially to those who do not apply sunscreen properly or are part of vulnerable segments of the population including children and pregnant women.
Now, before we become paranoid over the types of sunscreen we use, I would like to stress that research concerning sunscreen is far from conclusive. In fact, it is similar to the debate concerning cell phones and cancer. We simply don’t know the impact of many of the common ingredients in sunscreens.
But that does not mean we should not be precautionary and be aware of what these ingredients are and how they may be harmful. With that in mind, I have been asked to, next week (mid-week), provide you with a series of blog entries concerning sun screen safety so that you can become “sunscreen” smart and protect yourself and your family from not only skin cancer but from the other potential health risks associated with sunscreen.
So, before you go and throw out all the sunscreens you have that may, for instance, contain oxybenzone (one of the most common ingredients in sunscreen that may be harmful), or may be higher than SPF 50 (research suggests that SPF50+ may pose more harm than good), be sure you come back to the ORCF blog next week.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Bisphenol A (BPA), Cancer and You
Bisphenol A (BPA), an organic compound used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic, epoxy linings for food cans and packaging, has been getting a significant amount of attention concerning its harmful effects on human health.
BPA is a well-documented xenoestrogen, a type of hormonal disruptor that acts like estrogen and interferes with the bodies’ level of this essential hormone. BPA can effect the bodies natural development stages including pre-natal and childhood development as well as pregnancy and menopause by either mimicking, enhancing or in some cases blocking the bodies use of estrogen. This can cause several negative long term health effects and has been linked to type II diabetes and breast cancer.
In 2008, the federal government declared BPA a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and implemented regulations to ban the sale and importation of polycarbonate baby bottles because this particular age group is considered to be at a higher risk than others.
However, BPA is still widely used in many products that are available to most Canadians. For example, in a report published in March 2009 (http://bit.ly/bmqz33), Health Canada found BPA in at least 84% of canned pop sold in Canada. But the levels of BPA were so low that it would take an adult (60 kg body weight or 132 pounds) to consume approximately 940 canned drinks in one day to reach harmful levels.
Yet, there is a body of scientific literature, based on animal experiments that simulate conditions that could occur in humans, that has found harmful effects due to BPA at concentrations much below Health Canada's safety limit especially in populations that may be more at risk (Markey CM et al., 2001; Durando M. et al., 2007).
To air on the side of caution, there are a number of simple things we can do to limit our exposure to BPA (Griffin, 2009).
First, avoid using polycarbonate bottles, beverage cups and food containers. They are usually hard, coloured plastic, with the number 7 in the recycling triangle and the letter PC or OTHER underneath. They may also carry the trade name Lexan. Since many newer bottles made from an alternative material are also labelled with the number 7, it’s a good idea to make sure they’re specifically identified as BPA-free before purchasing them.
Second, use fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables wherever possible to avoid the BPA from can linings. When buying canned goods, choose those that are sold in bottles or jars instead of cans. One food processing company, Eden Organics, makes most of its products available in non-BPA cans. The exceptions are tomato-based products, which are too acidic for the alternative lining that is used with the other products.
Third, buy beverages in glass bottles rather than cans. BPA migration from beverage cans tends to be lower than from food cans but levels are highly variable depending on the contents and the manufacturer.
These are three simple things we can do to reduce the amount of BPA that our bodies absorb. If you would like more information concerning BPA or any other possible carcinogen as well as information concerning cancer prevention please feel free to leave a comment below.
References
Health Canada. (2009). Bureau of Chemical Safety Food Directorate Health Products and
Food Branch. Survey of Bisphenol A in Canned Drink Products. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/packag-emball/bpa/bpa_survey-enquete-can-eng.php. Accessed on June 15th, 2010.
Durando M, Kass L, Piva J, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM, Luque EH, Munoz de Toro M.
(2007). Prenatal bisphenol-A exposure induces preneoplastic lesions in the mammary gland in Wistar rats. Environmental Health Perspectives. January, 2007.
Griffen, Sean. (2009). Environmental exposure: The cancer smart guide to breast cancer prevention. Toxic Free Canada. Vancouver, Canada.
Markey CM, Luque EH, Munoz de Toro M, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM. (2001). In utero
exposure to bisphenol-A alters the development and tissue organization of the mouse mammary gland. Biology of Reproduction, No. 65.
BPA is a well-documented xenoestrogen, a type of hormonal disruptor that acts like estrogen and interferes with the bodies’ level of this essential hormone. BPA can effect the bodies natural development stages including pre-natal and childhood development as well as pregnancy and menopause by either mimicking, enhancing or in some cases blocking the bodies use of estrogen. This can cause several negative long term health effects and has been linked to type II diabetes and breast cancer.
In 2008, the federal government declared BPA a toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and implemented regulations to ban the sale and importation of polycarbonate baby bottles because this particular age group is considered to be at a higher risk than others.
However, BPA is still widely used in many products that are available to most Canadians. For example, in a report published in March 2009 (http://bit.ly/bmqz33), Health Canada found BPA in at least 84% of canned pop sold in Canada. But the levels of BPA were so low that it would take an adult (60 kg body weight or 132 pounds) to consume approximately 940 canned drinks in one day to reach harmful levels.
Yet, there is a body of scientific literature, based on animal experiments that simulate conditions that could occur in humans, that has found harmful effects due to BPA at concentrations much below Health Canada's safety limit especially in populations that may be more at risk (Markey CM et al., 2001; Durando M. et al., 2007).
To air on the side of caution, there are a number of simple things we can do to limit our exposure to BPA (Griffin, 2009).
First, avoid using polycarbonate bottles, beverage cups and food containers. They are usually hard, coloured plastic, with the number 7 in the recycling triangle and the letter PC or OTHER underneath. They may also carry the trade name Lexan. Since many newer bottles made from an alternative material are also labelled with the number 7, it’s a good idea to make sure they’re specifically identified as BPA-free before purchasing them.
Second, use fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables wherever possible to avoid the BPA from can linings. When buying canned goods, choose those that are sold in bottles or jars instead of cans. One food processing company, Eden Organics, makes most of its products available in non-BPA cans. The exceptions are tomato-based products, which are too acidic for the alternative lining that is used with the other products.
Third, buy beverages in glass bottles rather than cans. BPA migration from beverage cans tends to be lower than from food cans but levels are highly variable depending on the contents and the manufacturer.
These are three simple things we can do to reduce the amount of BPA that our bodies absorb. If you would like more information concerning BPA or any other possible carcinogen as well as information concerning cancer prevention please feel free to leave a comment below.
References
Health Canada. (2009). Bureau of Chemical Safety Food Directorate Health Products and
Food Branch. Survey of Bisphenol A in Canned Drink Products. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/packag-emball/bpa/bpa_survey-enquete-can-eng.php. Accessed on June 15th, 2010.
Durando M, Kass L, Piva J, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM, Luque EH, Munoz de Toro M.
(2007). Prenatal bisphenol-A exposure induces preneoplastic lesions in the mammary gland in Wistar rats. Environmental Health Perspectives. January, 2007.
Griffen, Sean. (2009). Environmental exposure: The cancer smart guide to breast cancer prevention. Toxic Free Canada. Vancouver, Canada.
Markey CM, Luque EH, Munoz de Toro M, Sonnenschein C, Soto AM. (2001). In utero
exposure to bisphenol-A alters the development and tissue organization of the mouse mammary gland. Biology of Reproduction, No. 65.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Cancer Prevention Project – Prevent Cancer Now
This year alone, according to the Canadian Cancer society 2010 statistics, it is estimated that there will be 173,800 new cases of cancer in Canada. This represents an increase of 1.6 % of new cases from 2009. Although there has been a steady rise in cancer rates since the early 1980s, their remains a common belief that, outside of smoking, cancer is a disease that just “happens” and is a result of living longer lives.
But is it?
According to the 2008 statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO) cancer incidence vary significantly across the globe even amongst some of the wealthiest and most populous nations of the world. For instance, with the exception of lung cancer, which remains the most frequently occurring and the most uniformly distributed cancer in the world, the most common cancers occurring in Western industrialized nations are completely different from those affecting Asian countries.
Taking into consideration the variability in mortality rates, the differences in cancer incidences suggest that cancer may be more than a disease that simply occurs by chance and may have more to do with diet, industry and modern conveniences more so than simply living longer. More importantly, however, this also suggests that cancer may be a disease than can be prevented.
As a member of Prevent Cancer Now (http://preventcancernow.ca), a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated towards primary prevention of cancer through education, legislation and policy changes, and working in collaboration with the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation (http://www.ottawacancer.ca), we are developing a lecture series devoted towards educating young and old about the contributing factors to cancer and how it can be prevented.
This week, I will be providing you with some useful information and tips to reduce your risk, your families’ risk and your children risk, of getting cancer.
Stay tuned!
This year alone, according to the Canadian Cancer society 2010 statistics, it is estimated that there will be 173,800 new cases of cancer in Canada. This represents an increase of 1.6 % of new cases from 2009. Although there has been a steady rise in cancer rates since the early 1980s, their remains a common belief that, outside of smoking, cancer is a disease that just “happens” and is a result of living longer lives.
But is it?
According to the 2008 statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO) cancer incidence vary significantly across the globe even amongst some of the wealthiest and most populous nations of the world. For instance, with the exception of lung cancer, which remains the most frequently occurring and the most uniformly distributed cancer in the world, the most common cancers occurring in Western industrialized nations are completely different from those affecting Asian countries.
Taking into consideration the variability in mortality rates, the differences in cancer incidences suggest that cancer may be more than a disease that simply occurs by chance and may have more to do with diet, industry and modern conveniences more so than simply living longer. More importantly, however, this also suggests that cancer may be a disease than can be prevented.
As a member of Prevent Cancer Now (http://preventcancernow.ca), a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated towards primary prevention of cancer through education, legislation and policy changes, and working in collaboration with the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation (http://www.ottawacancer.ca), we are developing a lecture series devoted towards educating young and old about the contributing factors to cancer and how it can be prevented.
This week, I will be providing you with some useful information and tips to reduce your risk, your families’ risk and your children risk, of getting cancer.
Stay tuned!
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