Document LJLRqLopkoj1jMReaa7bLyD5X

r News & Events T=i) m on Environmental Links to . Breast Cancer One In eleven. One In ten. One In nine. One In eight. The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer In the United Stales Is Increasing almost lin early. so dial breast cancer Is now the leading cause of deal!i for women between the ages of 40 and 55. killing almost 50.000 women In the United Stales each year. The search for a cause or causes has baf fled scientists. The July 3 Issue of Science Netus, how ever. had a fascinating review article called `EcoCancers" that summarized factors associated with cancer and their possible Interactions. Scientists do know that elevated concentrations of estrogen at certain stages of a woman's life will stim ulate cell proliferation In breasts during llie m en strual cycle. They have also found that many "estro genic agents" or "xenoeslrogens"--compounds that mimic estrogen, possibly by binding to cell receptors tlial trigger genetic acUvily--Induce or promote mam mary cancers In lab animals, and some, especially chlorinated hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAUs). may Increase a woman's risk of breast cancer. Among diese compounds are certain pesdcides. such as DDT. heplachlor and alrazlne; some Ingredients In plastics; some petroleum byprod ucts; PCBs and PAlis. Other factors dial Increase die amount of estrogen In die blood are light at night; eleclromagnedc fields, such as 60-hertz magnedc fields, microwaves and most radio waves; bela-blocker drugs (used to treat high blood pressure); age; and alcohol. (Among pre menopausal women, moderate drinkers have a 40 to 100% greater chance of gelling breast cancer than diose who abstain, reports Science News.) The research reviewed in Science News suggests dial these odier factors may Increase estrogen in die blood by suppressing die secredon of melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland of die brain during nighttime darkness. Melatonin Inhibits the producdon of estrogen and Increases die levels of n at urally occurring antioxidants in breast cancer cells, and It may reduce the number of estrogen receptors on breast cancer cells, loo. thus possibly slowing tumor growth. Science? News adds dial lab animals dial are chronically starved develop fewer cancers than those with adequate diets--and that such severe diet rcslricUon also boosts melatonin secreUon. Some studies have combined some of the above factors. For example. In two studies, rats exposed to variable magnetic fields and chemical carcinogens developed more mammary tumors Uian rats who were not exposed to die magnetic fields but were exposed to carcinogens. Also, several factors affect die form of estradiol, die naturally occurring form of estrogen in die body. This 18-carbon hormone can have a hydrox yl (OH ) group on its 2-carbon position or on its 16carbon position. When the 2-caibon xislUon is hydroxylaled. estradiol appears to be Innocuous; dils form Is highest In vigorous exercisers. Cigarette smoking, dioxins, and indole-3-carbinol (a compound found in vegetables In die cabbage family) also sdm ulate produedon of dils form. But when the 16-carbon posldon of estradiol Is hydroxylaled. die risk of getdng breast cancer Is pro moted. Alcohol, hum an papillomavirus, the combus tion pollutant benzapyrene, and some drugs depress die 2-carbon-hydroxylaUon padiway In favor of the 16- carbon pathway. A later Issue of Science News (July 24. 1993) levlewcd two more studies, one showing that a family lilsloiy of breast cancer indicates a smaller risk of gelling cancer dian previous studies Indicated; and anodicr showing that women who consumed the greatest am ounts of vitamin A. In their diets and from multi vitamin pills, had a 20% lower risk of breast cancer Uian women who look die smallest amounts of the vita min. One of die coauthors of die study. Waller C. Wil lett of Harvard, pointed out. however, dial vitamin A can be toxic In large doses, so women should by to get vitamin A from their diets, where the vitamin comes from non-toxic beta-carotene. Vegetables high In beta-carotene are spinach, carrots, and yellow and winter squashes. While sclenUsls debate die paGnvays dint cause cancer, environmentalists call for a ban on chemicals dial seem to have clear links to breast cancer. Green peace. In Its Ju ly /A u g u st/S ep l. 1993 newsletter, points out that in Israel, breast cancer rales and organochlorlne pesdclde contamination were among die worst In die world. But when several carcinogenic pesticides were phased out In die 1970s. conlautina- don and cancer rates dropped quickly. Giecnjicacc says dial "over die last 20 years, a few organoctilorlncs have been banned or restricted. But diousands aie still being produced, and thousands more--like dioxin-- larel produced unlntenUonally whenever chlorine Is used. RegulaUng diese chemicals, one by one. would take centuries. A more pracUcal soludon to the prob lem would be to phaseout organochlorlnes as a group, widi chlorine--die chemical building block of diem all -- specifically targeted for 01111111130011." H MAINE ORGANIC FARMER & GARDENER * Q p b 'O c f-' f News and Events J~v H Slr i L - L j . , r ^ * PAGE 4! 'v:: * New Hampshire Organic Farmer Alleges Problems with Pesticide Drift New Hampshire's largest organic farmer. Eero RuulUla. wlio lias also contributed much to MOFCA through his extensive knowledge of health problems related to agricultural chemicals and through talks at MOFGA's Farmer to Farmer Conlerence. suffered a serious setback tills spring. In June. Ruutllla's neighbor David Campbell treat ed his pumpkin fields with the herbicide Command (also sold as Commence. Dimelhazone. Fenoxan. Gamil and Merit, and known by the common name of Clomazone). while RuulUla's seedlings -- ultimately worth $21,500 of produce -- were hardening off out side ofhis greenhouse. The seedlings were later trans planted to 2 '/2 acres of field, where they became bleached (Command Is a pigment Inhibitor) and had to be pulled so that Ruullila could replant and main tain his certified organic status. Ruullila suspects that the bleaching was caused by drift from his neighbor's application of Command. "An event of this magnitude has never happened to a certified organic farmer in New England." Ruullila told the Boston Globe (June 27. 1993). While Campbell had been applytng Command. Ruultila's wife delected a sweet smell drifting through her home. Later. RuulUla's crops, weeds and even houseplants turned white. In addition, his 10-year-old son got diarrhea, his wife had violent headaches, and RuutUla began hearing noises, his left hand numbed, and he passed blood In his urine. Some two dozen peo ple from Litchfield who live near Campbell's pumpkin field have since reported similar complaints to New Hampshire's Division of Pesticide Control. Their com plaints include vomiUng. raw throats, diarrhea, numb ness in the hands, headaches, and ear ringing and popping. Cats and dogs belonging to RuutUla and his neighbors got diarrhea, two rabbits and a hen and a ferret died, and a horse has suffered with eye prob lems. The horse and many of Uie people were sUll sick when RuutUla talked widi The MOF&G on the 19lh of July, and Ruutllla's blood had tested positive for traces of xylene, an nromnlic hydrocaibon In Command that is known to affect Uie central nervous system, liver and kidneys. MarUn Fletcher, head toxicologist for FMC Corp.. which makes Command, told the Boston Globe that company studies on animals showed no health prob lems resulUng from Command. He saJd Uial herbicide scares tend to provoke flurries of groundless health complaints. An ERA Pesticide Fact Sheet says that "a complete data base for the chemical... shows very little poienUal for acute or long term health effects. However, because the adjuvants (Inert ingredients) used In the formulated product can cause irreversible eye dam age, the 6EC label bears the signal word danger... OiTtargel movement of Command Is not expected to cause any adverse health effects to persons in Uie vicinity of treated areas." RuutUla. however, has obtained medical safely and fact sheets Uial say that Command can damage the central nervous system and Ihe liver and can pro duce various symptoms of toxicity. He has requested more data from Uie EPA through Uie Freedom of Infor mation Act. and he wants lo hear from individuals Uiroughoul the country who have become ill after exposure to Command. "Everything I read about it says it's dangerous sluff." Ruullila told The MOF&C. *It's problemaUc in the Midwest because of drill and because it attaches lo water molecules* --a polentlalJy Important factor given Uie Hoods Uiere this year. In past years. Command drift lias bleached vegetation at homes near Midwestern (arms where Uie herbicide was applied. Because Ruutllla's fields, which are part of the Monadnock Community Land Trust, are not near his home, they were not contaminated with the herbicide and he was able lo replant some of what he lost with certified organic slock But he has had lo move out of hls house because of conUnued health problems when he was there, and he is unsure ofhis farming future. One of the symptoms he and hls wife have suffered Is an extreme loss of energy. "Wc may have lo shut Uie farm down." he told 77ie MOF&G In July, alUiough he was still farming in A ugust when he contacted The MOF&.G again. Campbell, who sprayed the herbicide, told the Boston Globe hls soluUon to the problem. "We'll lake care of it." he said. "I Imagine with money. We've got a lawyer." The New Hampshire Division of PesUcide Control was still mvesUgatlng the case when we went lo press, and iherefore could not com m ent In addition, the EPA was inlllaUng a federal Investigation, and the Environment and Agriculture Committee of the New Hampshire House of RepresentaUves had asked for a complete report on the case from the Pesticide Board. Command is a relaUvely new herbicide, originally developed for use on soybean fields in the Midwest. It has recenUy been approved for use on squash and pumpkins, but Willie ErhardL University of Maine Extension Vegetable Specialist, says that he does not know of anyone in Maine who has tried it yeL He says that the label is replete with warnings about the dan gers of drill of Command. teUlng farmers that the her bicide must be Incorporated Immediately because drift causes severe injury to neighboring crops. "I know a chemical salesman who is so afraid of it (because of the toxicity of drift to nearby plants -- even trees) that he doesn't want to sell it." says ErhardL Organic and Conventional Growers Must Protect Workers New federal farm worker protection rules, intend ed to reduce the hazards of pesUcfde use In agri culture. forestry and horticulture, are catching Maine growers--organic and convenUonal--off guard, notes the Maine Board of Pesticides Control (BPC). The (year old| Worker Protection Standard protects agricultural employees who produce plants on farms and In greenhouses, nurseries and forests, and h an dlers hired lo mix, load, apply or handle pesticides, or lo clean and repair related equipment on such establishments. Agricultural pesticide labels--including products containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). rotenone and pyrethrum--will Include new language about personal protective equipment and restricted entry Intervals (given In hours, rather than 'until dust has settled or spray has dried"). Protective clothing and personal protective equipment requirements on new labels will not be optional, and violating them constitutes a mis use of the pesticide. T his law affects everyone who uses agricultural pesticides." says Tammy Gould of the BPC."... It's not Just synthetic pesticides which are covered by Uie rule: it also includes those dial are considered organic." Nancy Ross. execuUve director of MOFGA and pres ident of the Agricultural Council of Maine (ACCOM), agrees. *We can't remind people enough that botani cal pesticides are toxic." says Ross. Although they should not affect consumers because the bolanlcals break down so rapidly, they can affect the applicator. Ross adds. For more informaUon about the Worker Protection Standard, contact Gould at (207) 287-2731. ^