1. rBGH, Hormones, Breast Cancer, and Pink Ribbons Martin Donohoe

2. Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH) aka recombinant Bovine Somatotropin (rBST), brand name Posilac © 10-15% of U.S. dairy cows injected with rBGH Used to increase milk production by cattle

3. rBGH Marketed primarily to large dairy farms (LDFs), which are supplanting small dairy farms LDFs have – Worse environmental impact records – Higher rates of workplace injuries – Contribute to decreasing agricultural diversity

4. Effects of rBGH on Humans Serum IGF-1 levels increase 13% above baseline in individuals drinking milk from rBGH-treated cattle IGF-1 interacts with estrogens, androgens, and other growth promoters Milk is the food most associated with high IGF-1 levels IGF-1 not important in yogurt, since it is used as a food source by some of the bacteria responsible for yogurt production

5. Risks of rBGH IGF-1 is a suspected contributor to breast, prostate and GI cancers – Promotes cell division and reduces apoptosis (preprogrammed cell death) in animals – Inhibits the ability of various anti-cancer drugs to kill cultured human breast cancer cells

6. Risks of rBGH Along with pesticides, other endocrine disruptors, and obesity, IGF-1 may be partly responsible for earlier onset of puberty (9.9 yrs in 2006, compared with 10.9 years in 1991) – IGF-1 also associated with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and obesity Women who eat dairy products deliver twins at five times the rate of vegans

7. Risks of rBGH Children, who have more years of life to live and drink more milk (and more milk per body weight) than adults, are disproportionately affected Some evidence suggests rBGH milk being funneled to U.S. children through school lunch programs – Many school systems have gone rBGH-free

8. Harmful Effects of rBGH FDA: rBGH causes 16 different harmful conditions in cattle, including heat stress, hoof disorders, GI disturbances, birth disorders, ovarian and uterine problems, and mastitis – Antibiotic treatment of mastitis leads to increased antibiotic resistance in cattle and humans

9. rBGH (Posilac © ) Originally developed and marketed by Monsanto Sold to Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly, in 2008

10. Monsanto Agent Orange, PCBs, dioxins, DDT Largest producer of genetically-modified seeds – Contamination events – Unethical experiments – Harassment of scientists

11. Monsanto Pesticide Roundup used in “War on Drugs” in Colombia Incidents of bribery, environmental contamination Profitable Member of corporate front groups fighting food safety legislation/organizations

12. Monsanto Roger Beachy (long-time president of the Danforth Plant, Monsanto’s nonprofit arm) now chief of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, overseeing almost $500 million in grants and research funding

13. Monsanto Islam Siddiqui, VP at CropLife America (US branch of CropLife International, an agribusiness front group led by Monsanto and others) Obama’s Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the US Trade Representative’s Office

14. Eli Lilly Paid record-setting settlement of $1.42 billion to US Justice Department for illegally marketing Zyprexa to children and elderly for non-FDA approved indications Multiple other instances of illegal and unethical marketing

15. Eli Lilly Manufactures antibiotics used to treat mastitis Produces Gemzar (used to treat breast cancer)

16. Elanco Marketed diethylstilbestrol (DES) for almost 2 decades despite data showing link between DES exposure in mothers and clear cell vaginal cancers in offspring – Contraindicated for human use by FDA in 1971, used in other parts of world through late 1970s – Banned for use in cattle in 1979

17. Elanco Manufactures ractopamine (Optaflexx), a beta agonist given to livestock for last 7-28 days of life to increase protein synthesis – OK’d by FDA, but banned in 160 nations – Can cause hyperactivity and muscle breakdown – Dangerous for human consumption

18. Elanco 2009: Elanco paper, commissioned through PR company Porter-Novelli, authors paid by Elacno – Loaded with misinformation (see report and OR pSR rebuttal on phsj website) Authors admit falsely claiming AMA and AAP endorsements for rBGH, misstate ACS’s neutral position

19. FDA Approval of rBGH OK’d for use by FDA in 1993; on market since 1994 FDA official (and former Monsanto attorney) Michael Taylor oversaw process – became Monsanto VP after leaving FDA; now FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods and Veterinary Medicine

20. FDA Approval of rBGH FDA relied on industry summary of internal tests GAO investigation: – Found 3 FDA employees involved in decision had conflicts of interest and multiple ethics rules violations – Criticized sloppy, manipulative science, lack of data on human health effects

21. rBGH Worldwide Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the European Union have banned rBGH The Codex Alimentarius, the UN’s main food safety body, has refused to certify rBGH as safe

22. Opposition to rBGH APHA ANA Health Care Without Harm AMA President Ron Davis (’07-’08) BMJ

23. Opposition to rBGH Humane Society Animal Protection Institute Humane Farming Association Farm Sanctuary ACS – no formal position (2009); previously supported rBGH

24. rBGH Today All fluid milk products in Oregon now rBGH-free 55 of the top 100 U.S. dairies are now at least partially rBGH-free or have announced that they will be Starbucks’ (company-owned stores), Chipotle, 160 hospitals nationwide rBGH- free

25. Hormones in Beef Six steroid hormones routinely used in US beef production: estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, zeranol. melengestrol, trenbolone DES (1954-1979)

26. Hormones in Beef Since 1988, use of steroids in cattle production illegal in Europe US government states hormone residues in beef from adult cattle pose no threat to human health – Endocrine Society, APHA, others disagree

27. Other reproductive toxins/carcinogens Phthalates, bis-phenol A (BPA), pesticides (persistent organic pollutants) Body burden high (EWG) Nursing infants at top of food chain

28. Hormone-Related Diseases on the Rise Breast and prostate cancers Thyroid disease Obesity Diabetes Endometriosis Uterine fibroids Infertility

29. Hormones in the Food Supply Earlier onset of breast development and puberty in young girls Altered sex ratio (more girls, fewer boys) Increasing cryptorchidism – Risk factor for testicular cancer Micropenis, hypospadias increasing

30. Komen Foundation Largest breast cancer charity in US Founded by Nancy Brinker, whose sister Susan Komen died of breast cancer in 1980 – Brinker – ambassador to Hungary under George W Bush – 2011 salary = $417,712; 2012 $684,000 Known for pink ribbon campaigns, Race for the Cure

31. Komen Foundation Affiliates in over 100 US cities and 50 other countries Has collected over $1.9 billion for breast cancer research and programs, including free mammograms and biopsies for uninsured women – Mammograms decrease risk of dying of breast cancer by 0-20%

32. Komen Foundation 83% of donations go to mission programs – 43% to education – 15% to research ($63 million in 2011, compared with $763 million [NIH], $150 million [DOD], $17 million [ACS]) – 12% to screening – 5% to treatment 18% to fund-raising and administration

34. Pink Ribbon Campaigns Positive aspects: – Community of survivors – Fund raising – Research – Advocacy – $30 million raised per year through pink ribbon campaigns Negative aspects: Pinkwashing

35. Pinkwashing Outgrowth of the transformation of corporate philanthropy in the 1980s and 1990s to "strategic philanthropy" and "cause-related marketing“ No one owns the pink ribbon image or oversees its use

36. Pinkwashing Pink ribbon packaging can mean donations to breast cancer research – with or without cap – with or without use of coupon – ongoing or time-limited – or simply to raise awareness of breast cancer

37. Pink Ribbons Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, Komen Foundation spend up to 25% of money raised on overhead Breast Cancer Awareness Month created by Astra Zeneca (manufacturer of tamoxifen) – AZ was a leading manufacturer of pesticides until corporate reorganization in 2000

38. Pinkwashing "Consumption philanthropy" may dampen people's willingness to make direct charitable donations Pink ribbon products can be carcinogenic, production may involve labor and even human rights violations

39. Egregious Examples of Pinkwashing Cosmetics – teens use avg. 17 personal care products/d – adults 12/d Yoplait – previously contained rBGH (now rBGH-free)

40. Egregious Examples of Pinkwashing Bottled water Pink alcohol Drill bits used in (carcinogenic) fracking Kentucky Fried Chicken NFL Jingle Jugs

41. Cosmetics ACS's "Look Good...Feel Better" program provides 30,000 women per year with a free makeover and bag of makeup donated by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Assn Cosmetics contain a number of environmental toxins – See Environmental Working Group website for database of toxins in cosmetics

42. Environmental Causes of Breast Cancer Komen Foundation and ACS largely ignore environmental contributors to breast cancer – 30-50% associated with known risk factors (family history – 10%; early menarche, late menopause late or no childbirth, HRT alcohol, radiation exposure)

43. Environmental Causes of Breast Cancer KF denies link between BPA and other endocrine disruptors and breast cancer, despite “Reducing Environmental Cancer" (a report from the President's Cancer Panel) and multiple suggestive peer-reviewed studies (and in opposition to the Precautionary Principle)

44. Environmental Causes of Breast Cancer KF denies link between exposure to organochlorine pesticides and cancer – EHP, 2007: fivefold increased risk of breast cancer among women exposed to DDT as adolescents – Multiple other studies showing link Komen Foundation accused of overstating benefits of mammography (BMJ, 2012)

45. Environmental Causes of Breast Cancer ACS allocates less than 0.1% of its annual budget to environmental and occupational causes of cancer – ACS has rejected the President’s Cancer Panel Report, which concluded that “the true environmental burden of environmentally-induced cancers has been grossly underestimated.” – Pays its CEO $2 million/yr – High administrative costs

46. Environmental Causes of Breast Cancer ACS “Excalibur Donors” ($100,000+/yr) include big Pharma and petrochemical, industrial waste, auto, cosmetic, and junk food companies Komen has over 200 corporate partners which provide approximately $50 million/yr in revenue

47. Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood 2012: Komen Foundation revokes grants for breast cancer screening programs at Planned Parenthood ($700,000 annually), then reverses decision after intense public protest – Donations drop dramatically; multiple events cancelled – 2013: Hires Judy Salerno (from IOM) as CEO Komen Foundation’s position on embryonic stem cell research unclear

48. What Can You Do? Read the fine print when you buy pink Avoid bottled water - use a refillable stainless steel bottle Avoid milk products from rBGH-treated cattle Eat organic, free-range beef if you are not vegetarian Do not microwave food in plastic containers

49. What Can You Do? Avoid cooking in non-stick pans and eating foods packaged with non-stick plastic Get recommended breast exams, mammograms Get angry at corporate malefactors for polluting the environment and food supply – e.g., GE-NY Presbyterian agreement Spread the word

50. Further Information Breast Cancer Action (download “Think Before You Pink” guide): http://bcaction.org/ http://bcaction.org/ Campaign for Safe Food, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility: http://www.psr.org/chapters/oregon/saf e-food/campaign-for-safe-food.html http://www.psr.org/chapters/oregon/saf e-food/campaign-for-safe-food.html

51. Contact Information Public Health and Social Justice Website http://www.publichealthandsocialjustice.org http://www.phsj.org martindonohoe@phsj.org