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The goal of the ELLA study is to learn more about how exposure to environmental chemicals during adolescence, a period of rapid growth and change, affects the developing body and how these changes might increase breast cancer risk later in life. Studies suggest that the origins of breast cancer can occur early, for instance in the womb and during puberty.

Despite advances in medical research, the incidence of breast cancer among women has not decreased in recent years. In fact, over the past 30 years, global incidence and mortality have increased at annual rates of 3.1 and 1.8 percent, respectively. Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women worldwide. In the United States, about 1 in 8 women will

Every day we come into contact with hundreds of chemicals, only a fraction of which have been thoroughly tested for safety. These chemicals enter our homes on the soles of our shoes, in the personal care and household products we use, and in the furnishings we buy. Some of these chemicals have been associated with cancer and other health effects.

Menopause and breast cancer: a City of Hope study

Researchers at City of Hope are investigating the influence of hormone-mimicking chemicals during sensitive stage in women’s lives. Approximately 30 percent of breast cancers are diagnosed during menopause, a stage in life marked by a decline in the body’s production of estrogen and progestin. Growing evidence suggests it might also be a time when the breast is particularly susceptible

Exposure to environmental chemicals is an important risk factor for breast cancer

Exposure to environmental chemicals, especially early in life, is an important contributing factor in the development of breast cancer, according to the most comprehensive review of human studies to date. The findings could help inform prevention strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of the disease, as rates continue to increase worldwide. In 2007, researchers from Silent Spring Institute published in the

Lessons from Abroad: Highlights of Our Visit to Santiago, Chile

As evidence suggests the seeds of breast cancer may be sown early in life, the Early Life exposures in Latina Adolescents (ELLA) study hopes to find out whether exposure to common environmental chemicals during puberty increases breast cancer risk later in life. To do this, the ELLA study builds on an existing study involving 500 girls in Santiago, creating new

Assessing the links between air pollution and breast cancer risk

Scientists at Columbia University are working with community groups in Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx to investigate how exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—a component of combustion-related air pollution—affects breast cancer risk. The Columbia study is one of six projects, including the ELLA study, funded through the Breast Cancer and Environment Research Program (BCERP)—a joint effort co-funded by the

Hormone disrupting chemicals common in fast food packaging

Fast food has been heavily criticized from a nutritional standpoint because it tends to be high in saturated fats, salt, and calories. Now scientists have identified another way that fast food consumption might affect your health: through potentially harmful chemicals in the packaging. In a recent study, scientists from nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies, conducted the first comprehensive

Leading Institutes Investigating Environmental Factors in Breast Cancer

The Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (BCERP), which funds our Early Life exposures in Latina Adolescents (ELLA) project, was prominently featured in a recent article in Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) on institutes leading research on the environment and breast cancer. One of the challenges in determining a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer is that the disease can

Wellness Chat: The Environment and Breast Health

The following Q&A with Silent Spring’s Director of Research originally appeared in Wellness Chat, an online series by EWG on the latest news on cancer prevention through discussions with experts in the field. Throughout the month of October, EWG published a series of articles highlighting the choices people can make in their daily lives—from choosing nontoxic cleaners and personal care

A New Look at Youth

Every day we are exposed to chemicals, many of which are found in the consumer products we use. As girls go through puberty and their breasts develop, the mammary tissue becomes particularly susceptible to these environmental influences because the breast cells are dividing rapidly. So it is crucial that we understand which chemicals are best to avoid during this important