A U.S. study catalogued 920 chemicals whose biological properties are linked to increased breast cancer risk; 652 had exposure evidence in at least one category. Researchers say the findings can help prioritize chemicals for monitoring and risk assessment.
The study reported 506 of the chemicals in consumer products, including 90 found only in that category; counts were 462 for dietary sources, 489 for pesticide formulations, 162 for drinking water, 142 for pharmaceuticals and 106 for construction materials. Many appeared across multiple exposure routes.
Using federal agency databases, researchers found 143 of the chemicals were produced in volumes exceeding 1 million pounds in 2019, including 10 above 5 billion pounds. The study also reported billions of pounds emitted to air in 2020 and tens of millions of pounds released through industrial activities in 2024. It recommends prioritizing drinking-water contaminants and limiting use of the chemicals in common products.
