Nearly a decade ago, women in Long Island began to worry about their high rates of breast cancer. So they advocated and lobbied and pushed until a public law was passed that allowed for the creation of the Long Island Breast Cancer Project. Funded by both the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, great data has emerged from this project -- like the data linking breast cancer and household pesticides.

Although much research has linked cancer with pesticides in work and industrial settings, few studies have investigated what these chemicals can do in households -- until now, thanks to research conducted as part of The Long Island Breast Cancer Project.

Published online in the December 13 American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers found an association between lifetime residential pesticide use and breast cancer risk in a sample of 1,508 Long Island women diagnosed with breast cancer between 1996 and 1997. These women were compared to 1,556 random controls. All women were asked to self-report their pesticide exposure and to offer blood samples for the study of organochlorine compound levels -- found in lawn and garden products.

As expected, researchers found an increased breast cancer risk for women whose blood samples showed the highest levels of organochlorine compounds. They also found it hard to find women who did not use lawn and garden pesticides to some degree.

Use of household pesticides has infiltrated our society, says researcher Susan Teitelbaum, assistant professor in the department of community medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, who reports she is happy to see a movement toward use of alternative methods, like integrated pest management.

Teitelbaum has just one recommendation as result of this study. It's quite simple really -- stop using pesticides.

Summer surf and sand. Planning a day trip or weekend vacation at the beach? You could be putting yourself and your family at short-term and long-term health risk. From bacterial pollution to toxic chemicals, some of our beaches are dirty enough to cause serious concern.

In an effort to combat beach pollution, the Milford Environmental Concerns Coalition in Milford Connecticut, hosts a beachwater quality initiative called the Freedom Lawn Contest, recognizing local residents who show their commitment to protecting water quality by growing beautiful lawns and gardens without the use of chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers.

According to Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), every coastal state has a beach pollution problem. In 2000, the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH Act) was passed by Congress, requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise the current health standards by October 2005. The FDA missed the deadline, and indicates it will not be able to finish updating the standards until 2011. The NRDC announced it is suing the EPA for failing to modernize the standards as ordered by Congress six years ago.

The NRDC has published a 349-page report, Testing the Waters 2006: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches, available as a PDF document.

To celebrate Earth Day today, we will offer posts featuring information and resources for ways to live green in reducing the environmental risks to cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society issued a statement last week calling for a ban on the use of pesticides in private gardens and lawns, based on the conclusions of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC, that state that substances used in pesticides are classified as known, probable or possible carcinogens.

In an observational study, Purdue University researchers found the risk of bladder cancer was four times greater in dogs exposed to lawns or gardens that had been treated with phenoxy herbicides than it was in dogs exposed to untreated lawns or gardens. Over 100 million pounds of pesticides are used by homeowners in homes and gardens each year, and the Pesticide Free Lawns Coalition estimates of the 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 19 are linked to cancer.

YARDSCAPING suggests these basic tips for nontoxic lawn care:

• Build good soil for healthy plant growth.
• Use organic or slow-release fertilizers at moderate rates and only when necessary. Avoid phosphorus fertilizers.
• Plant slow-growing, low-maintenance grasses.
• Mow high -- 2.5 to 3.5 inches -- with sharp lawnmower blades so that grass chokes out weeds.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients there so that you’ll minimize or eliminate the need for additional fertilizers.
• Accept the fact that life -- and lawns -- aren’t supposed to be perfect.

The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides works to protect people and the environment by advancing healthy solutions to pest problems, and offers a free newsletter featuring pesticide-free techniques and solutions that are simple and effective for maintaining an attractive and healthy lawn.

On April 22, Earth Day is observed each year to promote awareness of environmental issues. According to Earth Day's founder, Senator Gaylord Nelson, who, in 1970, wrote letters to colleges and put a special article in Scholastic Magazine to promote the special day he had planned, Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. People cared. People were concerned. According to Senator Nelson, the first year event organized itself. Today, over three decades later, Earth Day is a worldwide event. People still care. People are still concerned.

Environmental issues are of special concern to cancer survivors and people interested in cancer prevention. Environmental toxins and pollution are some of the causes linked to the risk and development of cancer. At The Cancer Blog, we post information from reputable and respected individuals and organizations outlining some of the environmental concerns as it relates to cancer risks. This is the second recap of posts, the first recap can be found here.

• Greenpeace: Chernobyl cancer deaths grossly underestimated
• Gardening organic for cancer prevention
• Cancer society calls for ban on lawn and garden pesticides
• Peter Max Earth Day T-Shirt benefits breast cancer
• Earth Day cancer survivor and the Rachel Carson for our time
• TCE: groundwater contamination in toxic triangle of cancer
• Oyster Creek nuclear power plant link to childhood cancer
• Tooth Fairy Project: low level radiation link to cancer
• Health agency saying higher cancer rates have little meaning
• Potato farms a hotbed of cancer debate
• California and New York highest air pollution cancer risks
• Environmental contaminants strong link to cancer

The Canadian Cancer Society is calling for a ban on the use of pesticides in private gardens, lawns, parks, recreational facilities and on golf courses because of the potential cancer risks associated with the chemicals used in maintaining ornamental gardens and lawns. In a statement published at the cancer society website, "We base this concern on the conclusions of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC, that state that some substances used in pesticides are classified as known, probable or possible carcinogens. Since ornamental use of pesticides has no countervailing health benefit and has the potential to cause harm, we call for a ban on the use of pesticides on lawns and gardens." I think that is a substantially clear statement that does not leave much margin for misinterpretation of what they mean in the call for a ban on chemical pesticide use.

According to Pesticide Free Lawns Coalition, over 100 million pounds of pesticides are used by homeowners in homes and gardens each year. While much attention is directed at the agricultural use of cancer-causing pesticide use, it might surprise the homeowner to know that suburban lawns and gardens receive more pesticide applications per acre than most other land areas, including agricultural areas. Chemicals used on lawns and gardens do not stay on the lawn or in the garden, but drift inside to pollute indoor air and surfaces. The Pesticide Free Lawns Coalition estimates of the 30 commonly used lawn pesticides, 19 are linked to cancer.

Toronto Master Gardeners offer a set of Go Natural in the Garden fact sheets that help the homeowner find alternative methods for maintaining a healthy garden and lawn.