MASSACHUSETTS BREAST CANCER COALITION
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends in Prevention,
It is with great gratitude that I look back on the 2013 Against the Tide events in both Hopkinton and in Brewster. From Marine veteran Pete Devereaux speaking out about his own diagnosis in Hopkinton to event founder Maria Vetrano speaking in Brewster about the meaning behind the event, it is the passion from each and every one of you that makes this event unlike any other. And for that I thank you. Click here to view the results and photos from the events. Remember it's not too late to support a participant's prevention efforts by making a pledge:
Your contribution helps support the continuation of our community education, research advocacy, and support of policy changes which reduce exposure to contaminants of concern linked with breast cancer and other diseases. If you have not yet done so, please sign the petition supporting Silent Spring Institute's research on emerging contaminants in water on Cape Cod and in Southeastern Massachusetts. Our legislators need to hear from you! Let them know you support Silent Spring Institute in the effort to further research water contamination and investigate potential solutions to ensure all Massachusetts citizens a future of safe and clean water.
On behalf of the staff and board of directors, I wish you an enjoyable transition into fall. Thank you for standing with MBCC to protect future generations.
With deepest gratitude, 
Cheryl Osimo
Executive Director
Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
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MBCC RESEARCH UPDATES
Educational Video Series
The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) is proud to release our latest video in the MBCC Research Updates Video Series. Watching will help you become an advocate for prevention and take steps to reduce your exposure to chemicals of concern.
This segment features Silent Spring Institute Director of Research Ruthann Rudel discussing mammary carcinogens and the dangers of exposures throughout the life course with respect to breast cancer risk. This is something that affects women and girls of all ages, so it is important that you share the video with your friends and family and encourage them to do the same. To re-post the video on your Facebook, Twitter, or other social media account, simply copy and paste the website link into your next post, tweet, or blog.
Click the image below to play the video: | | Chemical Exposures Cause Breast Cancer? Mammary Carcinogen Research |
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WHY COMPARE TWO UNDESIRABLE HEALTH CONDITIONS?
Response to a Recent Boston Globe Article
The Boston Globe article "Worried too much about chemicals? You could have chemophobia," asks "Which causes more harm? A) pesticides and other synthetic chemicals sprayed on fruits and vegetables, or B) salmonella and other microbes living on such produce."
Why do we need to compare two undesirable health conditions? The article, based on the research of Gordon Gribble, Professor of Organic Chemistry at Dartmouth College, states, "misperceptions about the dangers caused by the use of man-made chemicals in our environment has caused... a colossal mess." But we know there is no "misperception" and there is no "mess." There is a movement to reverse an epidemic of breast cancer and other diseases based on these simple, yet disturbing facts:
- Breast cancer rates have doubled over the past 40 years. Currently a woman's lifetime risk of being diagnosed is approximately 1 in 8.
- Researchers have identified over 200 chemicals that have caused breast tumors in animal studies.
- Only 200 of over 80,000 synthetic chemicals registered for use have been adequately tested for health effects and only five have been banned.
As advocates of environmental justice for all, the nation's primary law regarding chemical regulation is a priority for the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC). This law, the Toxic Substances Control Act, has not changed since 1976 and was flawed from the start. It is no surprise that momentum is building from innumerable citizens, scientists, health professionals, and others enthusiastically calling for reform. This is not a movement of "chemophobes."
The reality is that we should be concerned about both synthetic chemicals and microbes on our produce, because both cause harm to our health. Articles like this touting "either/or" logic distract from a conversation about solutions to these urgent public health problems.
TAKE ACTION:
Please post a comment or submit a letter to the editor to letter@globe.com (include name, address, and telephone number with your 200 word submission). You can also write directly to the author, Deborah Kotz, or contact her on Twitter @debkotz2.
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NSTAR PLAN FOR CHEMICAL HERBICIDES ON CAPE CODUrgent Request from GreenCAPE
In recent years you may have become aware of the plan by the electric utility NSTAR to spray a chemical cocktail of herbicides over their Cape Cod easements including private and public property, backyards, gardens, play sets, in the zones of contribution to public water supply wells--all of this over the only source of our precious drinking water supply. There is nothing between NSTAR's herbicides and the sole-source aquifer but quickly percolating beach sand. GreenCAPE managed (with help from MBCC) to keep that wolf from the door for 4 years but recently NSTAR announced they will resume their poison plan this fall. The primary tools in their tool kit are several herbicides which have not been thoroughly tested for all their health or environmental effects. A few are suspected endocrine disruptors. This is when Cape Cod has the highest breast cancer rate in the state! There is broad and deep opposition within the Cape Cod community to NSTAR's proposed actions. There are safe alternatives and NSTAR, and other utilities have used them for decades. We are determined to convince them to reconsider this ill-conceived program but there is a very short time frame to accomplish this. Public comment ends September 20th. Your letters, calls, and actions will have a significant impact on the outcome. If the MDAR Commissioner doesn't hear from you, what are the chances he will disapprove NSTAR's plan? Others will also need to be pressured to do the right thing. The Cape community needs your help--and soon. TAKE ACTION: Request the MDAR Commissioner disapprove the NSTAR plan for Cape Cod and initiate the use of alternative means of vegetation control. If you need more information, please check out the NSTAR pages of our website. Current contact information is below.
Please:
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Join us on September 20th in a visual "community response" under the rights of way in Hyannis to send a strong message yet again to NSTAR to cease and desist in their poison plan. Check final details at www.GreenCAPE.org. - Call your State Representatives and Senator and request their help to stop the spraying now: Remind them every single town on Cape Cod--all 15 of them--passed a resolution opposing NSTAR's Yearly Operational Plan. Click here for their contact information.
- Write a letter opposing the herbicide plan to the Cape Cod Times (NSTAR monitors these letters to gauge dissent). Submission guidelines.
- Send your comments/letters to:
And most importantly:
2) Commissioner Greg Watson/MDAR
251 Causeway St, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114
greg.watson@state.ma.us and CC your State Representatives and Senators if you live on Cape Cod. Be sure to get a tracking receipt.
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- Like us on Facebook and follow updates on the NSTAR folly. Massive push back from residents and visitors of Cape Cod is required!
- Attend a rally on Cape Cod! This is only feasible if loads of you respond ASAP.
Many thanks to MBCC and special thanks to Executive Director Cheryl Osimo for her help in distributing this time-sensitive request. Please act now! No one else will do this for us.
Sue Phelan, GreenCAPE
P.O. Box 631
West Barnstable, MA 02668
508.362.5927; 508.494.0276
Click here for more on GreenCAPE's NSTAR campaign
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:Chemical Safety Improvement Act
On July 31st, the Senate Committee Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform featuring 19 different witnesses. A big topic of the hearing was the bipartisan Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA). The entire hearing is available to the public online as a webcast.
We were pleased by the amount of bipartisan support for TSCA reform. Many individuals on either side of the party lines seem genuinely interested in seeking a compromise bill which suits both Republicans and Democrats. Although MBCC did not testify, we were glad to hear that many of our hesitations about the current version of the bill were raised. Click here to read MBCC's statement about the bill and it's current flaws.
We hope the push for TSCA reform continues and grows in strength at the Capital. We have been using the same flawed policies to manage and regulate chemicals in the United States since 1976. It is time for a change to better protect the heath of citizens from toxic chemical exposures.
Related Articles and Blog Posts:
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Reduce Your Risk: Back to School Tips
Reduce the amount of time your children's food is stored in its packaging. Store in glass, stainless steel, or ceramic containers.
Choose children's toys and products that are PVC-free.
Keep toxic chemicals locked away from children, and educate them about the dangers of chemicals.
When washing children's clothing, use natural products. Remove stains with white vinegar and make your own fabric softener from baking soda.
Be proud of small changes to reduce your exposure. Start with small steps and increase from there. For more tips to reduce your exposure, click here.
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The website "goodsearch" is a search engine which will donate to a charity of your choice every time you use the site. Please use the site (be sure to select Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition as your charity of choice) and a penny will be donated with every search. If you use the site to shop online, the site will automatically donate a percentage of every purchase.
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Environmental Health News
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About MBCC
The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is dedicated to preventing environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy, and changes to public policy. Thank you for supporting our efforts toward breast cancer prevention. Learn more.
617-376-6222
333 Weymouth Street#13
Rockland, MA
02370
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