Carol Secter

The workshop facilitated by Sandra Steingraber at the PCN conference was poetic, moving, informative, and just a little frightening. She led us on a journey through human developmental stages from conception to infancy. Throughout this journey, the embryo, fetus or infant is influenced by exposure to hormones or chemicals that cross the placenta. For each stage, there is a critical period during which exposure (or lack thereof) determines how the growing life will develop.

Prior to conception, if the father has been exposed to occupational chemicals, diesel exhaust, or kerosene, the risk of childhood cancer is increased.

At conception, exposure of the embryo to toxic chemicals, such as solvents and pesticides, increases the risk of miscarriage.

The next six weeks of a pregnancy are a period of organogenesis. During this time, while the embryo is only the size of a paper clip, each body part is developing. Exposure to toxic chemicals at this point may cause physical defects and/or an increased risk for breast and testicular cancers later in life. For males, exposure to atrazine or bisphenol-A may lead to undifferentiated and less mature testicles, resulting in a greater possibility for undescended testicles at birth or, later, testicular or prostate cancers. For females, exposure to these chemicals can lead to a delay in the differentiation of breast tissue, again associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

During months five and six of a pregnancy, brain growth and wiring are critical. As this is dependent on hormones from the mother’s thyroid gland, if the mother is exposed to chemicals like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), negative effects are possible. Additionally, exposure to mercury or lead may paralyze neuron development.

Exposure to PCBs is also associated with pre-term birth, the leading cause of disabilities. A very small or pre-term baby goes through a period of compensatory growth after birth, increasing the possibility of early puberty and therefore of breast cancer later on.

As dire as this sounds, Dr. Steingraber frames a positive possibility. The genes we inherit and the environment we are exposed to constitute partners in a dance. The partner leading us in the dance is the environment. We can only change one partner, she says, but we can change everything about the environment.

She believes that activism can alter the path that science takes. We at BCAM know that in prevention lies the real cure. If you ever doubted the need for stricter regulation of chemicals in common use, Dr. Steingraber makes it very clear that negative outcomes can follow from minimal exposure, if that exposure occurs at a critical time. Our activism is meaningful and important.

This brief article gives only an outline of some of what Dr. Steingraber spoke about. The audio recording of her presentation, ‘Causes of Cancer in Utero, Infancy, Childhood & Young Adulthood’ should be available on the Prevent Cancer Now website