Avoid Plastic? Over 400 Chemicals in Plastic Linked to Breast Cancer

My goal with my education is not to be all “doom and gloom.” Instead, I want to provide practical and tactical ways to be proactive about your health! This is one of them. Historically, it has been reported that hormones, especially estrogens, cause breast cancer. If you’ve been here awhile, you know I pushed back on that concept (heavily) as cancer is complicated. Estrogens can not possibly single handedly cause breast cancer. Turns out, I am right.

In a 2024 Environmental Science and Technology Letters, the authors report finding 920 breast cancer-relevant chemicals. Of that number, 414 are found in plastics. They go on to say, “Of the 414 chemicals on both lists, 98 cause mammary tumors in rodent studies, 188 increase the level of estradiol synthesis, 132 increase the level of progesterone synthesis, and 149 activate the estrogen receptor.”

This means, your OWN estrogens and progesterone could be floating around your body trying to mind their business, while 414 types of chemicals in plastics are wreaking havoc. This usually results in all sorts of symptoms.

They do admit that 175 of those chemicals in plastics need further testing to build on the research. That still leaves a lot of problematic chemicals. It also means there are likely thousands of chemicals affecting your hormones we don’t actually know anything about (yet).

What are the chemicals called?

Their report “identifies 15 chemical structure-based groups of particularly hazardous chemicals: aromatic amines, aralkyl aldehydes, alkylphenols, salicylate esters, aromatic ethers, bisphenols, phthalates, benzothiazoles, organometallics, parabens, azodyes, acetophenones, benzophenones, chlorinated paraffins, and PFAS.”

Some of these you may recognize - parabens, bisphenols (like BPA), phthalates and the forever chemicals known as PFAS.

In fact, PFAS can be found in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain resistant coatings for furniture, and even your yoga pants!

Aromatic amines are often found in dyes (like hair dye and dye for clothing), cigarette smoke, and paint.

Your favorite fragrance likely uses phthalates to help it last longer - perfumes, cologne, plug-ins, scented household goods, and candles.

Parabens are preservatives and commonly found in your make-up, household goods, baby products, and some food products.

Of course, you can choose products WITHOUT these ingredients, which is ideal. The world can’t eliminate plastics completely, especially as many of these chemicals can show up in the water supply. Consider investing in a water filter for your house. Do your best NOT to drink out of plastic water bottles. Avoid plastic wrapping, especially heating in plastic such as in the microwave. Look at everything that has fragrance like your plug-ins, perfume, and scented detergents. Read labels and move towards cleaner products and companies that clearly list what their products avoid or do not contain.

Plastic is everywhere - it’s ubiquitous in our society. Minimizing exposure the best you can is always the goal.