Why
is 1in9 so concerned about environmental factors?
According to the National Cancer Institute, one in seven women living
in parts of Long Island have a chance of developing breast cancer
in her lifetime. New York State 2000 Cancer Registry data indicates
that 500 women living in Nassau and Suffolk counties will be diagnosed
this year alone. Geographic variation in breast cancer rates has
been well documented, and researchers and the public are increasingly
turning to environmental exposures to look for explanations for
these variations.
Long
Islanders are living in a pool of chemicals.
According to the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer
Society, established risk factors for breast cancer include hereditary,
having no children or a late first pregnancy, early onset of menstruation
and late onset of menopause. However, only 5 to 10 percent of breast
cancers are attributable to genetics, and all the aforementioned
factors combined explain less than a third of all breast cancer
incidence. Geographic variations of cancer have led the public and
researchers to question whether environmental toxins – in
our air, water, land, food, medications – account for these
discrepancies.
Doesn’t
Government Protect us from Hazardous Substances?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists more than 70,000
chemicals that have been introduced into American commerce since
World War II, the vast majority of which have never been tested
for their effects on human health. In 1997, the Environmental Defense
Fund reported that “even the most basic toxicity data cannot
be found in the public record for nearly 75 percent of the most
widely used commercial chemicals.” |
Pushed
for passage of the Neighbor
Notification Bill, requiring commercial pesticide
applicators to notify neighbors of adjoining properties.
Was
invited by the United States Information Agency to meet with
representatives from Third World countries at an international
conference held in the Nassau County Executive Building in Mineola
to discuss breast cancer, environmental links and breast cancer
support and treatment.
1
in 9's Environmental & Legislative Committee
The
mission of this committee is to research environmental hazards
that may be linked to cancer and make them known to the public
through presentations and brochures.
The
committee has researched areas on pesticides
and integrated pest management,
electromagnetic fields,
plastic, dry cleaners,
lead, household chemicals and water quality. Further research
also has been done on underground oil tank leakage into water
supply.
The
environmental committee makes ongoing presentations to school PTA's,
Hadassah, Medical Centers and were also featured on a Long Island
Cable TV program.
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