Envision zero breast cancer

This blog is the second in a series about a new study that looks at how a woman’s exposure to chemical mixtures may increase the risk of breast cancer. (Read the first article here.) The study also explores whether women from different economic backgrounds experience different levels of chemical exposure.

This study is led by Dr. Kimberly Badal from the University of California, San Francisco, with help from Dr. Douglas Walker from Emory University and other researchers. It aims to find out which individual chemicals and mixtures are linked to breast cancer. It will give insight into how we can reduce exposure to chemicals to lower the risk of getting breast cancer. We interviewed Dr. Walker about non-targeted analysis, the method he brings to the study that will enable these complex research questions to be answered.

2024 saw a huge shift for Zero Breast Cancer as we became part of the Collaborative for Health & Environment (CHE) at Commonweal. The move provides us with both a stronger foundation and wider reach, which means our work will have more impact than ever. As part of the transition, we launched a new, user-friendly website, including a Spanish version with many pages translated by a native speaker. In this report, we highlight our coaching program, activity book, and webinars.

Chemicals linked to breast cancer risk come from many sources: our personal care products, cleaning supplies, food packaging, pesticides, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and more. These chemicals, including endocrine disrupting chemicals and mammary gland carcinogens, can alter vital pathways in our bodies. While most research has focused on single chemicals, in reality, we are not exposed to chemicals one at a time. We are exposed to many chemicals at the same time throughout our daily lives.