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sirius8 · 09-21-2007, 05:14 PM

A link has been found between aluminium in deodorants and cancer, according to British scientists.
Tests found that women who used deodorants had deposits of aluminium in their outer breasts. The samples were taken from women who had undergone a mastectomy for breast cancer.
Aluminium is not normally found in the human body and scientists are reasonably convinced the presence of the metal means it is being absorbed from anti-perspirant sprays or roll ons. Most deodorants contain aluminium salts, because the metal is effective at stopping skin sweating.
Dr Chris Exley, from Keele University, who carried out the tests, has already raised concern about the aluminium content of sun creams, fearing it could put users at increased risk of developing skin cancer and Alzheimer's.
His small study involved measuring how much metal was found in breast tissue taken from 17 breast cancer patients who had mastectomies at Wythenshaw Hospital, Manchester.
He found that the aluminium content of breast tissue was significantly higher in the outer breast.
Dr Exley's study received funding from Genesis, a UK charity dedicated to preventing breast cancer. A report into his findings is to be published in the November issue of the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry.
Dr Exley said: "We found there was a wide variation in concentrations of aluminium. Some patients had low concentrations while others had quite high concentrations.
"What we found among all the women is that they all had higher concentrations in the breast tissue closest to the underarm compared to more central tissue, for example below the nipple.
"We don't know that aluminium originated from antiperspirant but one can put two and two together and make a guess on that. The next work will be to see if the aluminium is coming from antiperspirant or elsewhere. We are going to do what we can to follow up this study with future research. Funding is the main barrier to that."
Dr Exley added: "Aluminium is known to cause cancer in animal models. We need to make sure aluminium in antiperspirants isn't contributing to breast cancer."
Dr Exley said manufacturers used aluminium in deodorants because it was very effective in preventing sweating.
He said: "There are some non-aluminium- based antiperspirants but they don't work as well. Myth and legend tells us aluminium is safe but reality shows us not that it isn't safe but that we don't know. Not knowing is not a reason for assuming safety."
However, Antonia Dean, a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Breast Cancer Care said: "This study found that 17 women with breast cancer all had aluminium present in the under-arm area of the breast.
"However, it has not established where the aluminium came from, whether it may have contributed to the development of the disease or whether similar levels could be found in women who do not have breast cancer.
"Further, large-scale studies are needed on this issue to enable women to make an informed choice about aluminium containing products. There is insufficient evidence to establish any kind of link between aluminium in deodorants and breast cancer on the basis of this research alone."
And Dr Christopher Flower, director-general of the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association, said: "I would say that this small study does not present any evidence at all of a link between breast cancer and the use of antiperspirants containing aluminium. "We do not believe that aluminium is absorbed into the body from the use of antiperspirants."

Daily Mail Sept 3, 2007

Kaytee · 09-21-2007, 05:35 PM

I have hear this as well. There are some deoderants that do not contain alluminum. One of the problems is it does not work well.. from what i have heard, I have personally never tried them

Tau · 09-21-2007, 07:31 PM

Terry,

Can you start linking to the sources of your information? It would certainly lend credibility to your claims. I would especially be interested in reading the study itself, and seeing what journal it was published in.

This seems to be a variant of the anti-perspirant warnings. Here is a snopes link about that -
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/antiperspirant.asp

Aluminum IS normally found in the human body, because it is a part of our natural landscape. It just happens to be the most abundant metal on earth - naturally found in the soil, water and air. People are exposed to that regularly - we've just increased the exposure through other artificial means.

While metal toxicity is a legitimate concern, aluminum poisoning seems to be a greater concern from drinking water, aluminum cookware, and certain food and drug products.

From what I've learned, aluminum toxicity seems to be linked to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and ALS. I haven't yet seen a reputable study linking it to breast cancer.

Kaytee,

I love Tom's of Maine's deodorants! While its true that they can require extra applications if you get super sweaty or anxious, I haven't found that to be a huge deal for me. I usually just keep an extra stick in my car for those little "emergencies."

One benefit that I unexpectedly found was that it will kill the stink that is already there, as well as prevent future stink. Typical deodorants seem to function only preventably. I've found this especially helpful on those days that I forgot to put it on in the morning - and I'm in my car with the extra stick.

Kaytee · 09-21-2007, 09:05 PM

I wonder if that is the same brand of tooth paste we get our dd. Its Toms flouride free toothpaste for kids.
I will have to look into it thanks for the info!

fallon · 09-21-2007, 09:23 PM

Kaytee, just curious, why flouride free?

Tau · 09-21-2007, 09:28 PM

Kaytee,

Its the same company. We also buy Tom's fluoride free toothpaste (cinnamint and fennel - yum) as well as the deodorant. We love both products, and they are so mainstream anymore that Im finding them at Target!

fallon · 09-21-2007, 09:32 PM

I gotta know about the fluoride guys...lol I feel like I'm missing something

Tau · 09-21-2007, 09:48 PM

Its not a topic that is as well established as some others - so there isn't as much data to share.

I originally read about the concerns in Mothering Magazine in the very early 90s and then found a couple of books that talked about it in depth.

From my very old recollection, some of the problems were that it was never fully studied before it was put into the general population. When it was, and the results were not supportive of such a move, the fluoride remained anyway.

Several countries (and I think some states) have since removed it from their drinking water all together as a result.

Fluoride can reach toxic levels, especially in children - and many people avoid the toothpastes if their kids like to swallow or eat it.

We've taken it a step further and removed it from our diet all together. It was probably the most radical choice of all of our unconventional life decisions.

Heres an article on Mothering that goes into a little bit of it:
http://www.mothering.com/articles/gr.../fluoride.html

If its really important to you, I can probably find my old books and go into it with some more specifics.

fallon · 09-21-2007, 09:55 PM

thank you, that really is amazing...I had never heard any of that, so where do you find things like flouride free toothpaste? I can't recall ever seeing it before. I know my dd first dr push fluoride drops from the first sign of teeth, although I didn't give them to her, and then gave me a rx for pills when she was older, we didn't get those either. Now her new dr has never mentioned fluoride for her or my son

Tau · 09-21-2007, 10:07 PM

Tom's of Maine is the only company that we've ever found that sells fluoride free toothpaste.

I also like that it doesnt have whatever that artificial sweetener that seems to be in every other brand out there. (it makes my stomach oogy) That means that it isn't as sweet as most people are used to - but my kids grew up with it, so they don't know any better anyway.

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