Careful With That Deodorant: It may cause breast cancer

Does the standard deodorant cause breast cancer?  High levels of aluminium have been found in the breast tissue of cancer patients – and the standard deodorant and anti-perspirant is 90 per cent aluminium.

Aluminium is easily absorbed by the skin, especially if the underarms have been shaved.  Once it is in the body, it mimics the hormone estrogen, which is known to be involved in the development of breast cancer.

Researchers from Keele University investigated tissue from 17 women who had breast cancer, and found ‘significantly higher’ levels in the underarm region of the breast than in other parts of the breast tissue.

Research team leader Dr Chris Exley said it was reasonable to conclude that deodorants were the most likely cause of such a high level of aluminium in the underarm region of the breast tissue.

(Source: Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2007; 101: 1344-6).

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