Pesticides and Breast Cancer: A Wake Up Call

‘Pesticides and Breast Cancer: A Wake Up Call’ Dr Meriel Watts 

Breast cancer incidence rose 30-40 percent from the 1970s to the 1990s and rates continue to escalate in the Asia Pacific region. New Zealand has one of the highest rates in the world. New Zealand’s Dr Meriel Watts set out to identify what synthetic chemicals may be contributing to breast cancer. Her research took three years and resulted in the book ‘Pesticides and Breast Cancer: A Wake Up Call’. 

 It has been estimated that more than 80 percent of breast cancer cases are associated with environmental factors that include exposure to contaminants, lifestyle, and diet. There is considerable international concern that some of the 70,000 synthetic chemicals in our environment today may be directly linked to a large percentage of breast cancer cases, but there are no epidemiological studies to determine this. It has been observed that breast cancer incidence in Western countries has paralleled the proliferation of synthetic chemicals since World War II, and that as developing countries take up industrial agricultural practices their breast cancer rates escalate similarly. 

Meriel Watts’ book offers a comprehensive assessment of the available evidence. The introductory chapters discuss the broader issues and subsequent chapters discuss the many chemicals in the environment that affect breast cancer risk in laboratory studies and are likely to similarly affect people. It identifies 98 pesticides, one adjuvant and two contaminants that may be implicated in the global breast cancer epidemic, and provides evidence that 42 pesticides still in use in New Zealand may be contributing to the risk of breast cancer. The thorough review of these pesticides in the book make it a particularly useful resource book.

 “Scientifically it is impossible to prove that a particular pesticide does or does not cause breast cancer. It never will be proven. Regrettably this does not mean that the pesticides aren’t causing breast cancer,” says Dr Watts. “It is vital that the government develops a specific breast cancer strategy which recognises the role of synthetic chemicals in breast cancer, and includes testing of New Zealand women for body burdens of chemicals linked to breast cancer – and lastly and most importantly adopts a precautionary approach to chemicals for which there is evidence of a link with breast cancer, ensuring their replacement with safer alternatives.”

Recently launched in Malaysia the book has already achieved international acclaim with several non -Western countries now translating it for publication. The book will be officially launched in NZ soon. Copies can be purchased from the Women’s book shop in Auckland.