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Last Updated: Aug 1, 2008 - 10:24:18 AM |
A new study found that a chemical called 4-nonylphenol, found in cleaning materials, textiles, plastics, paper and clothing causes breast cancer in mice.
In the study, Dr. William Baldwin and colleagues at the University of Texas at El Paso, gave different doses of 4-nonylphenol and estrogen to mice that had been genetically modified to readily develop breast cancer over 32 weeks.
The study found that many of those given 4-nonylphenol developed breast cancer while the mice given estrogen did not.
The dosage used in mice was 100 to 1000 times more than the amount humans are exposed to, according to the study. Because of this, it is too early to say that 4-nonylphenol found in household products poses any risk.
4-nonylphenol is a mimic of estrogen. However, the results of the study suggested that it may not trigger breast cancer the same way estrogen does. High levels of estrogen are a major known risk for many cases of breast cancer.
The study did not tell how 4-nonylphenol causes breast cancer. Further studies remain to be done to elucidate the mechanism behind the cancer-causing effect of 4-nonylphenol.
The study was published in the July issue of the Journal of Applied Toxicology.
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