Letter to the Editor of MAMM Magazine
September 2000

Chemical Caution Flag

    We applaud your article on the possible link between endocrine-disrupting chemicals and breast cancer ("Masquerading as Hormones," July/August 2000).

    This would help explain the dramatic increase in the disease in some countries and some parts of the United States, and has enormous implications for public policy.

    Another concern is that endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be causing the surprising increase in the number of girls who are developing breasts and pubic hair at the age of seven or eight. Since early puberty puts girls at risk for depression and other problems as girls, and for breast cancer as women, we need more research as soon as possible.

    The National Center for Policy Research for Women and Families has just started a project aimed at "getting the word out" on what is known and what is not yet known about the effects of pesticides and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals on girls and women. We will be distributing our report widely as soon as it is finished.

Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D., Executive Director
Patricia Lieberman, Ph.D., Staff Scientist
National Center for Policy Research for Women & Families
Washington, DC

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