Spring Break
Brown Bag Films series shows documentary
Brooke Cowlishaw
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: ARTS
Shampoo, toothpaste, perfume and makeup are just a few household products that may lead to breast cancer, according to "Toxic Bust: Chemicals and Breast Cancer," a documentary featured in the Brown Bag Films series at the Media Library Tuesday night.
The film, written, produced and directed by Megan Siler, suggests that a big problem lies in exposure to hazardous chemicals in everyday products, instead of exploring nutritional or hereditary risk factors.
"It's worrisome that women are living in the post-World War II age of synthetic materials," said Julie Brody, principal investigator of the Cape Cod Breast Cancer and Environment Study.
Brody also said that traces of harmful chemicals used in manufacturing make their way into the air and water, making their dangers even worse.
"If we put a chemical into use, we may not have the option of changing our minds later," she said.
Philip Landrigan, director of community and preventative medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical School, said that it is important for testing and research to be conducted on these hazardous products.
"I really think the time has come to open the second front on the war against cancer," Landrigan said. "Proper logic toxic testing hasn't been done."
The film highlights areas of the country with the highest cancer risk, including the San Francisco Bay area and Cape Cod, and interviews residents of these areas who have been affected by breast cancer.
Bastrop freshman Madison Finley said that he was unaware of these risks.
"I had no idea that this was happening - that the environment and things we use every day can cause cancer," Finley said. "It makes me think about the possibility of these factors affecting men's prostate cancer as well."
Media Library head Sue Parks said she chose the documentary for the series because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The film will be shown again today at noon, and another breast cancer-related documentary entitled "The Breast Cancer Diaries" will be shown next week.
The film, written, produced and directed by Megan Siler, suggests that a big problem lies in exposure to hazardous chemicals in everyday products, instead of exploring nutritional or hereditary risk factors.
"It's worrisome that women are living in the post-World War II age of synthetic materials," said Julie Brody, principal investigator of the Cape Cod Breast Cancer and Environment Study.
Brody also said that traces of harmful chemicals used in manufacturing make their way into the air and water, making their dangers even worse.
"If we put a chemical into use, we may not have the option of changing our minds later," she said.
Philip Landrigan, director of community and preventative medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical School, said that it is important for testing and research to be conducted on these hazardous products.
"I really think the time has come to open the second front on the war against cancer," Landrigan said. "Proper logic toxic testing hasn't been done."
The film highlights areas of the country with the highest cancer risk, including the San Francisco Bay area and Cape Cod, and interviews residents of these areas who have been affected by breast cancer.
Bastrop freshman Madison Finley said that he was unaware of these risks.
"I had no idea that this was happening - that the environment and things we use every day can cause cancer," Finley said. "It makes me think about the possibility of these factors affecting men's prostate cancer as well."
Media Library head Sue Parks said she chose the documentary for the series because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The film will be shown again today at noon, and another breast cancer-related documentary entitled "The Breast Cancer Diaries" will be shown next week.
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