Breast Cancer From A BottleFor Pre-Teen Girls

Remember all those John Hughes movies filled with drama and teenage angst? That’s my daughter, about four days out of the month. Sobbing frenzies predicated by a far-flung brush and “I hate my hair!” A room full of clothes and nothing to wear. Crying jags over misunderstandings.

She’s nine.

A new study has me wondering if this monthly moodiness has something to do with PMS. An August, Pediatrics published a study that found one in 10 girls have already begun developing breasts—the first sign of puberty—by the age of eight and that the cause may be exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals like Bisphenol A (BPA), found in plastics and food-can linings, as well as preservatives, surfactants, pesticides and plastic additives. The problem, it seems, is that these chemicals mimic estrogen in the body, thus tricking it into starting the process of puberty earlier than necessary.

The bigger problem is that our government hasn’t passed any toxic substances regulation since 1976, so chemicals like these can be developed and added to products without any requirement for safety testing. My daughter’s exposure to BPA from a water bottle or pesticides on the soccer field grass may be small in each case, but the cumulative effect of these exposures on her small body is huge. Early puberty means early breast development, which puts her at a higher risk for breast cancer.

Breast cancer from a bottle? This is serious. Find out what you can do about it at Mommy Greenest.

Plus, this week, the first FOUR subscribers who haven't won anything from us in the last 30 days and comment on the site with "super" will each win a $15.95 copy of Super Natural Home. Tell a friend!

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Comment by ecostilettor on November 8, 2010 at 11:49am: Thanks for this great comment! This is great info! xxRachel

Comment by Marisole on November 8, 2010 at 11:46am: So important to remember what we are feeding our families. I can go for the easy meals and they are well received by all three of my children but I hate that the packaging is laden with toxins. BTW: I was on the phone w/ my pediatrician and following shortly after that one of the nurses asking all about early signs of puberty, behavior issues, weight gain etc. when my daughter was 9 and acting like a trapped animal knowing I wasn't ready for her to start puberty. What I learned was that girls show signs or start puberty as early as 4 yrs. before they actually begin menstruating. ( she actually was starting the whole PMS behavior at 8 so by 9 I was really stressed). I wasn't thrilled but it helped prepare both of us. Also she started her period at 12.5. I have cut way down on canned foods and bottled water and ready made foods. OMG I just realized my youngest daughter is 7. So maybe I have a yr or 2 before she starts turning into a PMS nightmare, errghhhh.

I also wanted to drop a note letting you know what a fan I am of greenest mommy and eco stiletto. I will comment on your site too but since I'm on twittermom I wanted to keep in touch. You provide valuable info and still comes across like friends talking to each other-
Thanks,
Marisole