Cosmetics chemical doesn’t cause breast cancer in older women: study
But researchers say a question mark hangs over the role of the plastics in earlier life
A common chemical used in cosmetics and household plastics doesn’t significantly increase the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, suggests the largest study to date to investigate the impact of phthalates on cancer risk.
Despite finding metabolites of phthalates, which are used as gelling agents or plasticisers, in the urine of more than 1200 postmenopausal women, US researchers have found no significant positive relationship between the chemical and breast cancer risk over 19 years of follow-up.
