Chemicals Glossary
Want to find fast answers about harmful chemicals and radiation linked to breast cancer? Check out the links below to get in-depth information, from State of the Evidence 2010.
To make it easier to find what you're looking for, we've sorted them by category, breaking them out by carcinogens, hormone disruptors and radiation.
Carcinogenic Chemicals
Chemicals classified as carcinogens have been determined to directly cause cancer. The following chemicals have been classified as mammary carcinogens by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and/or the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals
Hormone- or endocrine-disrupting chemicals influence cancer risk indirectly by changing the body's natural hormonal balance. Certain cancers, including breast cancer, are sensitive to hormonal changes.
- Alkylphenols
- Bisphenol A (BPA)
- Bovine growth hormone (rBGH/rBST)
- DDT
- Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
- Dioxins
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Radiation
Ionizing radiation is a known carcinogen, while much research is yet to be done on non-ionizing radiation.
Emerging Chemicals of Concern
The following chemicals are emerging concerns for breast cancer, and have important links to other health concerns.
