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Page 27
| Asbestos. An industrial chemical with over three thousand uses, asbestos is a danger to individuals in shipbuilding, mining, construction, and brakelining occupations. It may cause cancer of the lung and pleura. |
| Benzene. Used in a variety of industrial processes and compounds, benzene can cause lymphoma and leukemia. |
| Chrome and nickel ores. Mine workers who inhale these ores demonstrate increased risk of lung and nasal cancer. |
| Cycasin. A product of the palm nut Cycas circinalis eaten by natives of the Pacific Islands, cycasin can cause kidney cancer. |
| Immunosuppressive drugs. Immune-deficient individuals are more likely to develop cancer. Some of the drags used to treat cancer, such as steroids, prednisone, interferon, and interleukin-2, as well as chemotherapy and radiation, can also cause cancer or other serious illnesses. |
| Polycyclic hydrocarbons. Found in tobacco smoke, tar, soot, and fuel, these substances can cause cancers of the lung and skin. |
| Radiation. Both natural and man-made radiation are known causes of a number of cancers including leukemia and cancer of the lung, breast, skin, and thyroid. Natural radiation is ultraviolet light and comes from the sun. 7 |
| More About Pharmaceutical Estrogens |
| Exogenous hormones are widely prescribed in the United States, primarily as oral contraceptives (OCs) during the menstrual cycle and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after menstruation ceases. Each of these frequently used categories of drugs has a high potential to raise the risk of several common cancers, specifically breast and uterine cancers. The relationship of OCs and HRT to breast cancer risk is controversial, but several studies have shown a moderately increased risk after long-term use. Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) is a major cause of endometrial cancer. |
| Numerous epidemiological studies have examined the relationship between oral contraceptives and the risk of breast cancer. Although there is still some controversy about this subject, most studies conclude that OC use at any age increases that risk. |
| The use of OCs also increases the risk of liver tumors. A case-controlled study of young women who died of cancer of the liver showed that the use of OCs was associated with a significantly elevated relative risk of hepatocellular |
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