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From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Is there a connection between environmental toxins and breast cancer?
-- Ben Ward, Virginia Beach, VA

More than 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the United States, and 20 percent are likely to die from it. Breast cancers among women have climbed steadily in the U.S. and other industrialized nations since the 1940s. More than half of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have any of the known or traditional risk factors such as family history, hormonal factors or a fatty diet, and researchers suspect that widespread exposure to environmental toxins is triggering the surge.

Strong evidence linking chemicals to breast cancer include studies showing that lifetime chemical exposure to naturally produced estrogens (female hormones produced by the ovaries and other adrenal glands) increases the risk of breast cancer. New evidence also suggests that exposure to compounds that mimic these natural estrogens, such as hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives, also increases risk.

Other compounds found to increase breast cancer risk include: polyvinyl chloride, a plastic commonly used in vinyl siding, shower curtains and other products; the gasoline component benzene; and some pesticides and herbicides. Also strongly linked are organic solvents used in manufacturing processes, hydrocarbons produced by the combustion of gasoline and heating oil, and synthetic chemicals like dioxin, a byproduct of the paper bleaching process. Many compounds long ago phased out of use in the U.S.--including DES, a drug taken by pregnant women to prevent miscarriage, the notorious pesticide DDT, and PCBs used in manufacturing--still persist in the environment and can also trigger the disease.

When New York health researchers noticed that breast cancer cases were increasing at alarming rates on Long Island during the 1980s and 1990s, they commissioned the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project to find out if exposure to some prevalent toxins--including DDT and PCBs--was to blame. Surprisingly, researchers found little evidence to support a definitive connection. However, the study did suggest that these chemicals were linked to enlarged tumor size, meaning that although they may not cause breast cancer, they may contribute to how fast the cancer grows.

Without many direct links between breast cancer and specific contaminants, regulation is unlikely, so women should take precautions on an individual basis. Exercising more, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, lowering alcohol intake and quitting smoking are good first steps. Avoiding exposure to contaminants at home or on the job will also help. Meanwhile, environmental groups like the Breast Cancer Fund and Breast Cancer Action are advocating for more Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of chemicals and pressing chemical makers to voluntarily limit the production of certain suspect substances.

CONTACTS: National Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project, http://epi.grants.cancer.gov/LIBCSP/; Breast Cancer Fund, (415) 346-8223, www.breastcancerfund.org; Breast Cancer Action, (415) 243-9301, www.bcaction.org; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; or submit your question at: www.emagazine.com, or e-mail us at: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

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Earth Talk

From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that tankless water heaters are more energy efficient than traditional water heaters. How do they work? -- Felipe Gomez, Flagstaff, AZ

In a conventional water heater, 30 to 60 gallons of water sit in the tank, constantly being heated and re-heated, even when no hot water is in use. The heat from the tank keeps dissipating into the air, creating “standby heat loss.” This constant energy waste adds up, and can constitute 10 to 20 percent of a household’s heating costs.

Unlike traditional water heaters, tankless water heaters (also known as demand or instantaneous water heaters) heat the water only as it is used, thus eliminating standby heat loss and minimizing energy usage. Cold water travels through a pipe to the unit, where it passes over a gas or electric heating element in a thin enclosure. This exposes a lot of the water’s surface to the heating element, thus enabling it to heat up quickly. The element only operates when the hot water faucet is turned on. These heaters are also small and thus space saving, and can be attached to a wall or put under the sink or in a closet.

First put into widespread use in Japan and Europe, tankless water heaters began appearing in the U.S. about 25 years ago. While they do cost more than double the price of conventional water heaters--top-of-the line, high-capacity residential tankless models sell for up to $1,000--a typical tankless unit lasts more than 20 years, compared to the 10-year life expectancy of a conventional water heater, according to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. Also, consumers can quickly make up the difference through energy savings.

While a constant supply of hot water is available through a tankless system, the flow rate may be somewhat limited, depending upon the needs of your household. Typically, a tankless water heater provides a flow of two to four gallons per minute. As with many tank heaters, simultaneous use of hot water appliances can affect the flow rate. Water-hungry appliances like dishwashers and washing machines may need to be operated at separate times. Alternatively, a second water heater can be installed at a high-demand location. Gas-fired heaters tend to have higher flow rates and are less expensive than electric models. Leading tankless water heater manufacturers include Bosch, PowerStar and Ariston, and the units are available at most big appliance and home superstores as well as through Controlled Energy Corporation, Tankless Water Heaters Direct, and several others.

CONTACT: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office, (800) DOE-3732, www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/factsheets/bc1.html; Controlled Energy Corporation, (800) 503-5028, www.controlledenergy.com; Tankless Water Heaters Direct, (802) 583-2726, www.tanklesswaterheatersdirect.com.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; or submit your question at: www.emagazine.com, or e-mail us at: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

EarthTalk
Questions and Answers About Our Environment
A Weekly Column
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