Q. Does fluoride in drinking water increase breast cancer risk? Q. Does drinking cow’s milk increase A: No studies have demonstrated a link breast cancer risk? between fluoride in drinking water and an A: It is unclear whether a diet high in milk increased risk of breast cancer. Fluoride is and dairy increases breast cancer risk. added to drinking water to prevent tooth Concerns stem from the fact that cow’s decay. There is limited evidence fluoride milk usually comes from pregnant cows may increase the risk of bone cancer, and contains bovine hormones, including however most studies, including a recent bovine oestrogen. Drinking cow’s milk British study, conclude there is no increases levels of human insulin growth evidence of an association between bone factor 1 (IGF-1), and women with higher cancer and fluoride in drinking water. levels of this growth factor have a slightly Water fluoridation may cause early stage increased breast cancer risk. However, dental fluorosis (dental mottling) in although some studies suggest a diet high children. in milk and dairy products increases breast cancer risk, others suggest there is Q. Does chlorine in water increase breast no increase, or even in some cases a cancer risk? reduced breast cancer risk. A: Currently, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that chlorine in drinking water Q. Does smoking increase breast cancer increases breast cancer risk, although risk? there are some studies that claim A: Most recent studies and meta-analyses chlorinated water slightly increases risk. conclude there is a modest increase in Chlorine is added to water as a breast cancer risk for those who smoke or disinfectant. It can react with organic are passive smokers (e.g.). The difficulty in matter in water and generate chlorination demonstrating a link may be partly by-products such as chloroform. The because of interactions with other factors International Agency for Research on which influence risk. For example, a Cancer (IARC) classifies some chlorination recent study showed that exposure to by-products as possible causes of cancer. light at night is a breast cancer risk factor,
Q. Does fluoride in drinking water increase breast cancer risk? A: No studies have demonstrated a link between fluoride in drinking water and an increased risk of breast cancer. Fluoride is added to drinking water to prevent tooth decay. There is limited evidence fluoride may increase the risk of bone cancer, however most studies, including a recent British study, conclude there is no evidence of an association between bone cancer and fluoride in drinking water. Water fluoridation may cause early stage dental fluorosis (dental mottling) in children. Q. Does chlorine in water increase breast cancer risk? A: Currently, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that chlorine in drinking water increases breast cancer risk, although there are some studies that claim chlorinated water slightly increases risk. Chlorine is added to water as a disinfectant. It can react with organic matter in water and generate chlorination by-products such as chloroform. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies some chlorination by-products as possible causes of cancer. Q. Does drinking cow’s milk increase breast cancer risk? A: It is unclear whether a diet high in milk and dairy increases breast cancer risk. Concerns stem from the fact that cow’s milk usually comes from pregnant cows and contains bovine hormones, including bovine oestrogen. Drinking cow’s milk increases levels of human insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and women with higher levels of this growth factor have a slightly increased breast cancer risk. However, although some studies suggest a diet high in milk and dairy products increases breast cancer risk, others suggest there is no increase, or even in some cases a reduced breast cancer risk. Q. Does smoking increase breast cancer risk? A: Most recent studies and meta-analyses conclude there is a modest increase in breast cancer risk for those who smoke or are passive smokers (e.g.). The difficulty in demonstrating a link may be partly because of interactions with other factors which influence risk. For example, a recent study showed that exposure to light at night is a breast cancer risk factor,
Ambassador_Attendee_FAQs_Updated_Oct_18.docx