Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 16, 1993 TAG: 9310160155
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short
"Studies have found that women with the highest amounts of these chemicals in their body have breast cancer risks four to 10 times higher than women with lower levels," said Joe Thornton, who wrote a report on the chemicals for the environmental group Greenpeace.
Joe Walker, associate director of the Chlorine Chemistry Council, said the industry group is reviewing the report.
"Because breast cancer is such a frightening illness that touches literally all of our lives," he said, "the last thing we want is for women to be alarmed by preliminary findings from selective studies."
He said groups like Greenpeace fail to acknowledge that many applications of chlorine chemistry replaced products less environmentally acceptable. "There is much more to learn," Walker said. "Studies to date are inconclusive; that's why ongoing research is critical."
Greenpeace and women's groups demanded that organochlorines - chlorine-based chemicals - be phased out worldwide. Many commonly used items, including clear plastic wrap, pesticides and paper, are made with organochlorines.
"We want prevention," said Abzug, who heads the Women's Environment Development Organization. "You cannot get prevention unless there is a basic commitment to research, to funding, to a consciousness that doesn't seem to exist in the cancer agencies in the government or out of government."
- Associated Press
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.