Research finds 485 chemicals in US pesticide products linked to breast cancer
5 hours ago
- A new study identified 485 chemicals in US pesticide products linked to breast cancer, amid rising early-onset breast cancer rates.
- The review includes both active and 'inert' ingredients, which often escape thorough safety reviews due to regulatory gaps.
- The EPA only assesses individual pesticide ingredients, ignoring cumulative effects from multiple pesticides or complete formulas.
- Exposure sources include crop pesticides, lice treatments, lawn fertilizers, and flea/tick treatments, raising concerns about total exposure.
- Breast cancer incidence is increasing by 1% per year, with a faster rise (1.4%) in women under 50.
- Federal data shows 84 of these chemicals are present in the general population, but scientists say this is an undercount.
- Only about 145 of the identified chemicals are registered as active ingredients; the rest use 'inert' status to avoid scrutiny.
- Inert ingredients like PFAS can be biologically active and harmful, but are not regulated as stringently as active ones.
- The EPA rejected a 2023 petition to review inert ingredients more strictly, and its pesticide office faces industry influence.
- Recommendations include expanding California's Prop 65, buying organic produce, and using water filtration systems like activated carbon.