Four Tips to Reduce Your Exposure to Harmful Chemicals with Protect Our Breasts
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month I am partnering with Protect Our Breasts to celebrate their 10th Anniversary! They translate the science into digestible tips on chemicals to avoid in everyday products and packaging that contribute to breast cancer. I was attracted to their mission because they focus on empowering young women with knowledge in their most vulnerable stage to harmful chemicals. Below is an interview with Caitrin Burke, Promotions Coordinator for Protect Our Breasts.
What is the mission of Protect Our Breasts and why did it begin?
Our mission is to share the conversation about chemicals in everyday products found on the grocery shelves that contribute to breast cancer; empowering women to make safer choices to protect their breasts during the most vulnerable periods of their lives. This organization began after our Founder & Executive Director, Cynthia Barstow, battled breast cancer herself and was inspired to bring awareness to the link between toxins and breast cancer, and ultimately to share safer choices for prevention.
How does the Protect Our Breasts Movement work?
Our Science Director translates scientific research into digestible tips to be shared on our website, social media accounts, or with friends and family. The tips, graphics, and statistics provide clear science-based messages for young women (and men!) to apply to themselves now. We partner with mission aligned, non-toxic, and organic brands who are dedicated to working towards creating a safer marketplace with safer packaging. These 24 brand partners help spread awareness about protecting our breasts, while we simultaneously promote their products to students in our 53 campus chapters across the world!
A large part of the POB focus is on educating younger women. Why?
The Institute of Medicine report indicated that young women, for stages up and through the first full term of pregnancy, are most vulnerable to chemical exposure, setting themselves up for a diagnosis later in life. It's important that our messages reach these individuals, which is why we manage chapters located on college and high school campuses. We hope that women and men can make safer choices beginning at a young age in order to prevent development of cancer later.
What are three scientific facts about Breast Cancer Prevention that all women should know?
Over 70% of breast cancers are unknown and most likely linked to environmental exposures (30% are related either to genetics (5-15%) or lifestyle behaviors (15-25%))
Chemicals of concern consist of 216 mammary gland carcinogens and over 1000 potential endocrine disruptors.
The packaging of products can be more harmful than the product itself due to leaching and migrating of the packaging chemicals into the product.
What has been the most fun switch to safer for you?
The change I am most passionate about is personal care and cosmetic products. I have become so much more aware of ingredients to avoid in products and apps like EWG have helped me double check the safety and reliability of products I purchase!
*Tips from graphic are taken from Protect Our Breast Instagram
