"Grievous harm" from carcinogens in the environment has been "grossly underestimated" by the U.S. National Cancer Program, a presidential panel charges.
The two-member President's Cancer Panel, appointed to three-year terms by President Bush, focused its efforts on environmental cancer risk. The panel held four hearings in which it consulted experts from environmental groups, industry, academic researchers, and cancer advocacy groups.
The panel's report includes an open letter to President Obama signed by panel chair LaSalle D. Leffall Jr., MD, of Howard University; and panelist Margaret L. Kripke, PhD, of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
"The grievous harm from this group of carcinogens has not been addressed adequately by the National Cancer Program," Leffall and Kripke write. "The Panel urges you most strongly to use the power of your office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water, and air that needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our nation's productivity, and devastate American lives."
In its 240-page report, the panel calls on the National Cancer Program to emphasize environmental research, particularly so-called "green chemistry" that evaluates safety at the earliest stages of product development. It also calls for legislative and regulatory action to force industry to prove chemicals are safe before, not after, they are introduced into the environment.
Presidential Panel's Advice for You
In addition to recommending sweeping changes in federal legislation and regulation, the panel also made a number of recommendations for how individuals can reduce their risk of cancer from environmental exposures in several areas.
As noted above, there is scientific disagreement over many of the panel's findings. These recommendations therefore do not necessarily represent scientific consensus.
Children:
- Parents should realize that children may be particularly sensitive to environmental carcinogens. Parents and child care providers should choose foods, house and garden products, play spaces, toys, medicines, and medical tests that will minimize a child's exposure to toxins.
- Both parents should avoid exposure to chemicals prior to a child's conception and throughout pregnancy.
Reducing chemical exposures:
- Remove shoes before entering the house.
- Wash work clothes separately from the rest of the family laundry.
- Filter home tap or well water. Prefer filtered water to commercially bottled water.
- Store and carry water in stainless steel, glass, or BPA- and phthalate-free containers.
- Microwave food in ceramic or glass containers instead of plastic.
- Try to choose foods grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.
- Eat free-range meat raised without antibiotics, growth hormones, or exposure to toxic runoff from livestock feed lots.
- Properly dispose of medications, household chemicals, paints, and other toxic materials that can contaminate the water or soil.
- Turn off lights and electrical devices when not in use.
- Drive fuel-efficient cars; find alternatives to driving.
- Quit smoking and eliminate secondhand smoke in the home, car, and public places.
Avoid Radiation:
Cut exposure to electromagnetic energy by wearing a headset when using a cell phone, texting instead of calling, and keeping calls brief.
- Periodically check home radon levels.
- Reduce exposure to medical imaging devices by discussing the need for medical tests with health care providers.
- Avoid overexposure to UV light by wearing protective clothing and sunscreen when outside, and by avoiding sun exposure when sunlight is most intense.
SOURCES:
"Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now," President's Cancer Panel, 2008-2009 Annual Report."
Fontham, E.T.H. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, published online Oct. 28, 2009.
News release, President's Cancer Panel.
News teleconference, Breast Cancer Fund, May 6, 2010.
American Cancer Society web site: "Cancer and the Environment" blog post by David Sampson, May 6, 2010.
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