Chemical Found in Deodorants may Increase Breast Cancer Risk

by Kathy Jones on January 13, 2012 at 11:37 PM

A chemical that is commonly found in some deodorants and other cosmetics has been linked to breast cancer in a new study.

The study, by researchers at the University of Reading in Britain, involved 40 women with breast cancer. The researchers studied tissue samples from these women, all of whom had undergone mastectomy.

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The researchers reported that 99 percent of the 160 samples had chemicals called parabens, which are found in moisturizers, make-up, shaving foam, tanning lotions and toothpaste. The study also found that women who did not use deodorants still had parabens in their breast tissue, meaning that these chemicals were from other sources.

"The intriguing discovery that parabens are present even in women who have never used underarm products raises the question -- where have these chemicals come from?" said co-author Lester Barr from the University Hospital of South Manchester.

The study findings appear in Journal of Applied Toxicology.

Source: Medindia

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