The preliminary results of this unprecedented study, which set out to measure the impact of exposure to endocrine disruptors on breast cancer, revealed the presence of chemical substances that disrupt the hormonal system in samples taken from hundreds of patients operated on in Strasbourg.
“Food, clothing, furniture, kitchen utensils, cosmetics, household products, etc.: it would take a long time to list everything that is likely to contain endocrine disruptors in our environment,” explain the researchers. of ICANS in their study.
According to these researchers, gender is important here because women concentrate these chemical substances more than men and their metabolism slows down their elimination, especially since they are more exposed to household products and cosmetics.
“These substances do not act as a treatment in medicine where the higher the dose, the greater the toxicity. Certain endocrine disruptors are extremely toxic at low doses,” explained professor and head of surgery Carole Mathelin, who presented the preliminary results of the study at the International Senology Meetings in Strasbourg.
During this study, she said, the research team took 1,072 samples from 687 operated patients and looked for different endocrine disruptors, noting that 40 pesticides, 30 metals and 4 eternal pollutants (PFAS) were found. identified in tumors or in the tissues around them.
Six heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, lead, aluminum) were found in almost all of the samples analyzed, said clinical research project manager Albert Moussaron.
The study is continuing to confirm these initial results. Ultimately, 3,000 patients operated on in Strasbourg will have contributed, it was indicated.
