A review by Gray et al, published in the journal Environmental Health, found that increasing evidence from epidemiological studies, as well as a better understanding of mechanisms linking toxicants with development of breast cancer, reinforces the conclusion that exposures to substances found in common, everyday products and byproducts, may lead to increased risk of developing breast cancer.

The authors examined the literature on exposures to environmental toxicants and risk for developing breast cancer, dividing the evidence discussion into seven major sections: (1) Hormones: Pharmaceutical agents & personal care products; (2) Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs); (3) Hormones in food: Natural and additives; (4) Non-EDC industrial chemicals; (5) Tobacco smoking: Active and passive; (6) Shift work, light-at-night and melatonin; and (7) Radiation.