Chemicals and cancer

" Workers in nail salons often come into contact with products that contain potentially harmful compounds, some of which are carcinogenic or endocrine disruptive, but most of these products. not being properly controlled and evaluated on the level of safety for consumers' health , 'said Quach Thu, Ph.D., epidemiologist, working at UC Berkeley, USA and a researcher. on cancer at The Cancer Prevention Institute of California, Fremont, California, USA. " Many of these women work 12 hours a day, in small ventilated stores ."

Chemicals commonly found in nail polish and other products are thought to be related to the cause of cancer and other health risks. (Photo: Latina)

Currently, Quach Thu is conducting studies funded by The UC-administered California Breast Cancer Research Program, to explore the link between workers in nail salons regularly exposed to products contains many toxic chemicals with breast cancer, endocrine disorders or other health risks they often encounter.

' Our goal is to research breast cancer by approaching the most basic, fundamental causes that can lead to disease, ' says Mhel Kavanaugh-Lynch, the UC-administered California program director. Breast Cancer Research Program, ' Our research is based primarily on the practical knowledge and experience of people who have been dealing directly with breast cancer. We provide opportunities for supporters and embarked researchers to answer their urgent questions scientifically. '

Chemicals related to cancer

The main concern of research programs is that the usual chemicals are present in everything from pesticides to cosmetics that can cause disease in breast cells, especially in young women. A common misconception is that women with breast cancer are mainly due to family genes. The research that Quach Thu is conducting, is just one of many studies aimed at understanding the causes of breast cancer from the living and working environment of patients and finding reasonable answers to the reason as to why. There are a few groups of workers in certain industries that are easily caught in this disease.

Dr. Quach Thu, UC Berkeley, USA

More than 80,000 chemicals are circulating in the US market, which is largely unregulated and appreciated for the safety of consumers' health. Currently, more than 33.5 million tons of chemical products are produced or imported every day in the United States, according to Megan Schwarzman, a researcher at the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health in UC Berkeley. States

For Quach Thu, this study stems from personal reasons because her mother, the beauty care specialist, has spent more than 15 years exposed to top cosmetics. Kwok's mother believes that her headaches and skin irritation are rooted in beauty care. When her mother died of leukemia in 2005, Quach Thu decided to devote her career to research. And since she was a graduate student at UC Berkeley, she began to focus her research on how the workers in nail salons often interact with products. It contains many toxic chemicals with breast cancer, endocrine disorders or other health risks they encounter often.

' The first concerns about the harmful effects of toxic chemicals contained in cosmetics are reflected by customers, but no one who realizes the main victims are those who are in direct contact with the chemical. substance , 'according to Guo Thu,' when you go into nail salons, you can smell the strong odor of these chemicals and of course you know that smelling this much can cause illness . '

Among the toxic chemicals commonly found in nail salons are carcinogens called formaldehyde, in addition, there are two other substances involved in miscarriage and birth defects called toluene. and dibutyl phthalate . Meanwhile more than half of women working in nail salons are of childbearing age, according to Guo.

Researchers have clearly seen the link between regular exposure to toxic chemicals and workers' health problems. They recommend nail facilities, so it is required that workers wear gloves and masks when working as well as open windows to increase ventilation and cover nail polish bottles when not in use.

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Ho Duy Binh
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