Dear Friends in Prevention,
After a long and snowy winter, spring is finally here. Using this springtime energy, the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is in the midst of developing events (see sidebar for details) and projects. We are especially excited to introduce our new community education project, the MBCC Research Updates video series!
This informative set of videos is designed to present the facts about environmental health and breast cancer prevention. Each short video will feature an interview with a researcher, medical professional, university professor, breast cancer activist, or other prominent figure in the field. As a valuable educational tool, each segment will provide tips to take action to reduce your exposure to environmental contaminants and become an advocate for improving public health policies in your community. The first video in this series will launch in the June/July eNewsletter.
If you would like to learn more or become involved in this video project, please contact cherylosimo@comcast.net. Please also consider a monetary contribution to these education efforts using the donation button below:
Executive Director
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Tips to Make a Difference
Support source water protection in your town
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has many resources for ways you can protect source water through private wells, a sole source aquifer protection program, citizen involvement, and other things you can do. You can visit their website to learn more about these activities in your local area.
Choose products you bring into your home carefully
In addition to your exposure to concerning chemicals in cleaners, detergents, and personal care products, these are also washed down the drain and into the groundwater that enters the environment. This can feed back into drinking water.
Moving Forward
In the state of Massachusetts, there are opportunities to advance regulations on wastewater treatment systems, with the goal of reducing human exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds. In the coming months, researchers at Silent Spring Institute will have the chance to work with scientists and collaborators to evaluate specific strategies that address emerging contaminants in wastewater.
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 TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT
OF S.354 AND S.387
Act relative to healthy families and businesses
Act for a competitive economy through safer alternatives to toxic chemicals
On Wednesday March 27th, the Healthy Families & Businesses Bill (also known as the Safer Alternatives Bill) had a hearing before the Environment Committee. This hearing reviewed two separate versions of the proposed legislation: An Act Relative to Healthy Families and Businesses (S.354 - Senator Ken Donnelly) and An Act for a Competitive Economy Through Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals (S.387 - Senator Marc Pacheco).
The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) submitted a letter as testimony for this hearing. As an organization, we support both bills as a comprehensive yet fair way to reduce our exposure to toxins that pose risks to our health while protecting our economy. They accomplish this by only requiring a change in the use of the toxic chemical if a thorough review of alternatives determines that there are safer and feasible alternatives available.
After the hearing, an executive session was held by the Environment Committee during which, S.387 was given a favorable report. This bill is now expected to move to the Senate Committee on Ways & Means.
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SILENT SPRING INSTITUTE FLAME RETARDANTS RESEARCH
Cited by Legislators in Letter to EPA
Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), along with 22 other Senators, wrote a letter to the Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the importance of addressing flame retardant chemicals. This letter, written in late February, urges the EPA to conduct risk assessments of flame retardants and cites scientific evidence from our sister organization, Silent Spring Institute.
The legislators were referring to the most recently published research (cited Dodson et al, published November 2012) that found 41 flame retardant chemicals in the house dust of all California homes sampled. This study, and Silent Spring Institute's long history of flame retardant research, demonstrates that chemicals applied to upholstery migrate out of furniture and into household dust, sometimes at levels above federal health guidelines.
Using this scientific evidence from Silent Spring Institute and elsewhere, Senator Lautenberg and others, "urge the agency to use all of its available tools to evaluate the risks associated with flame retardant chemicals."
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WELCOME TO OUR THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS!
Dr. Michael Misialek, M.D.
"As a pathologist I see far too many cases of breast cancer. There is also a disturbing trend towards younger and younger women being affected. We need to further raise public awareness, push for policy changes and support research into the causes and reasons for breast cancer."
Michael Misialek, M.D.
Dr. Michael Misialek currently serves as Associate Chair of Pathology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, MA. He is the Medical Director of the Vernon Cancer Center, Chemistry Laboratory and Point of Care Testing. Click here to read his full bio
Erika Keller Rogoff
 "I am thrilled and excited to participate as a member of the Board of Directors of MBCC with its mission of prevention of breast cancer from environmental causes."
Erika Keller Rogoff, PhD Erika Keller Rogoff, Ph.D. has spent her professional life as a psychotherapist and an educator. Currently, she is spending more of her time farming, life coaching, running her business, Bethel Botanicals, and with her family. Erika, like many others, had very few risk factors when she was diagnosed with breast cancer over ten years ago. Her passions are people, plants, and the planet.
Lisa M. Foley
 "I have many friends, acquaintances and colleagues that have been affected by breast cancer. The fact that 1in 8 women will be diagnosed in her lifetime is unacceptable and terrifying to me. Until we eradicate this horrible disease that takes our friends, our mothers, our daughters, our sisters, our wives, I will work for and support MBCC".
Lisa M. Foley Lisa Foley lives on the North Shore with her husband and their son, daughter, and dog Seamus. She is a youth soccer coach and president of her local Rotary Club, Topsfield-Boxford-Middleton. With degrees in psychology, sociology, and criminal justice , she has worked over the last 20 years in behavioral health as well as adult corrections and juvenile justice. Lisa is the Director of Operations for the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services in the Northeast Area and is an adjunct faculty at North Shore Community College.
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Upcoming Events
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REFER YOUR LOCAL SALON: email cosimo@mbcc.org | |
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More Info Coming Soon
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Recent Environmental Health News
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Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
617-376-6222 333 Weymouth St. #13 Rockland, MA 02370
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