20/07/2010 - Household products linked with increased breast cancer risk

US research has shown that there may be a link between the frequent use of household cleaners and air fresheners and a greater chance of developing breast cancer.

The study, carried out by the Silent Spring Institute in America, involved more than 1,500 women, half of whom had suffered breast cancer and half of whom had not. They each reported on the types of cleaning products they used and how often.

The results suggest that those who use the greatest number of cleaning products have up to 110% more risk of breast cancer than those who use the fewest.

The research also revealed that those who replaced solid air fresheners more than seven times a year and those who used anti-mould products more than once a week were both twice as likely to develop breast cancer as those who never use them.

Insect repellents, furniture polish and oven cleaner were also identified as slightly increasing the risk of the disease.

However, the researchers made it clear that further study is needed before any link could be confirmed and that the results they got may have been biased by the participants’ self-reporting.

They recommended that cleaning products be studied more thoroughly and alternate means of reporting and measuring be investigated for future research.