President's Cancer Panel: The report by the Advisors to the President on the National Cancer Program that fell on deaf ears (2008-2009)
- May 6, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: May 8, 2024
“Scientists have identified more than 200 industrial chemicals — from pesticides, flame retardants, jet fuel — as well as neurotoxins like lead in the blood or breast milk of Americans, indeed, in people all over our planet (Kristof, 2016). These have been linked to cancer, genital deformities, lower sperm count, obesity and diminished I.Q. Medical organizations from the President’s Cancer Panel to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics have demanded tougher regulations or warned people to avoid them, and the cancer panel has warned that ‘to a disturbing extent, babies are born 'pre-polluted.' ’ ” […] “So we have a remarkable state of affairs:” […]
– Nicholas Kristof
February 13, 2016
“The President’s Cancer Panel is the Mount Everest of the medical mainstream, so it is astonishing to learn that it is poised to join ranks with the organic food movement and declare: chemicals threaten our bodies.” […] “The cancer panel is releasing a landmark 200-page report on Thursday, warning that our lackadaisical approach to regulation may have far-reaching consequences for our health.
I’ve read an advance copy of the report, and it’s an extraordinary document. It calls on America to rethink the way we confront cancer, including much more rigorous regulation of chemicals.
Traditionally, we reduce cancer risks through regular doctor visits, self-examinations and screenings such as mammograms. The President’s Cancer Panel suggests other eye-opening steps as well,” […]
“In particular, the report warns about exposures to chemicals during pregnancy, when risk of damage seems to be greatest. Noting that 300 contaminants have been detected in umbilical cord blood of newborn babies, the study warns that: ‘to a disturbing extent, babies are born pre-polluted.’
It’s striking that this report emerges not from the fringe but from the mission control of mainstream scientific and medical thinking, the President’s Cancer Panel. Established in 1971, this is a group of three distinguished experts who review America’s cancer program and report directly to the president.”
“The report blames weak laws, lax enforcement and fragmented authority, as well as the existing regulatory presumption that chemicals are safe unless strong evidence emerges to the contrary.”[i] […] “ ‘Only a few hundred of the more than 80,000 chemicals in use in the United States have been tested for safety,’ the report says. It adds: ‘Many known or suspected carcinogens are completely unregulated.’ ” […] “Industry may howl.” […] “In the real world, regulatory decisions usually must be made with ambiguous and conflicting data. The panel’s point is that we should be prudent in such situations, rather than recklessly approving chemicals of uncertain effect.” […]
“Some 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives, and they include Democrats and Republicans alike. Protecting ourselves and our children from toxins should be an effort that both parties can get behind — if enough members of Congress are willing to put the public interest ahead of corporate interests.
One reason for concern is that some cancers are becoming more common, particularly in children. We don’t know why that is, but the proliferation of chemicals in water, foods, air and household products is widely suspected as a factor. I’m hoping the President’s Cancer Panel report will shine a stronger spotlight on environmental causes of health problems — not only cancer, but perhaps also diabetes, obesity and autism.”
– Nicholas Kristof
May 5, 2010
“Americans are being ‘bombarded’ with chemicals, gases and radiation that can cause cancer, and the federal government must do far more to protect them, presidential cancer advisers said on Thursday.” […] “Although as many as two-thirds of cancer cases are caused by lifestyle choices like smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise, the panel said many avoidable cancers were also caused by pollution, radon from the soil and medical imaging scans.”
“ ‘The panel was particularly concerned to find that the true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated,’ they wrote in the report” […] “The report is sure to stun industry and many cancer specialists. It has already delighted environmental groups,” […]
“ ‘With nearly 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States, many of which are used by millions of Americans in their daily lives and are un- or understudied and largely unregulated, exposure to potential environmental carcinogens is widespread,’ it adds.” […] “ ‘The American people — even before they are born — are bombarded continually with myriad combinations of these dangerous exposures,’ Kripke and Leffall wrote in a letter to President Barack Obama at top of the report.
‘The panel urges you most strongly to use the power of your office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water, and air that needlessly increase healthcare costs, cripple our nation's productivity, and devastate American lives.’
Some specific advice from the report:
Increase, broaden and improve research regarding environmental contaminants and human health.
Raise consumer awareness of environmental cancer risks and improve understanding and reporting of known exposures.
Do more to eliminate unnecessary radiation-emitting medical tests, and to ensure that radiation doses are as low as possible without sacrificing quality.
Aggressively address the toxic environmental exposures the U.S. military has caused, and do more to help affected military personnel and civilians.”
– Reuters
May 6, 2010
Note: Read the President's Cancer Panel report here: “Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk”, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, 2008–2009 Annual Report.
Endnote:
[i] “New Alarm Bells About Chemicals and Cancer”, The New York Times, Nicholas Kristof, May 5, 2010.