Keeping a House Too Clean could Cause Breast Cancer
According to breast cancer researchers at the American Silent Spring Institute, women who overuse household cleaning products could be twice as likely to get breast cancer. The researchers say that cleaners that combat mold, mildew and foul-smelling air are the ones to watch out for.
Out of over 1,500 women that were questioned about what kind of cleaning products they use and how often, many were housewives that battle keeping away bathroom mold and mildew build-up from windows while keeping their homes smelling fresh using air fresheners. Those that were quizzed included 787 women between the ages of 60 and 80 with breast cancer and 721 in the same age range who are healthy. The women were broken up into 4 groups depending on how much they use cleaning products, and the cancer rates were compared.
Julia Brody, speaking for the institute, says that women that reported the highest use of combined cleaning products are doubling the risk of breast cancer in comparison to those that reported the lowest use. Using products to control mold, mildew and fresh-smelling air were associated with the increased risk, she added.
The study also showed that insect repellents, pesticides and mothballs boost the chance of getting breast cancer as well. However, there seemed to be little that linked the pesticides, and the institute has requested further research to be done very soon. Brody said that, as far as they know, this is the first study about the use of cleaning products and the risk of breast cancer that has ever been published. More than 1,000 women are diagnosed with the disease every month in Britain.