A Message from MBCC's Executive Director

Dear Friends in Prevention,

I hope that this letter finds you and your loved ones safe and well.

Despite the many challenges we have all faced in 2020, Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) has continued to stay focused on the prevention of environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy, and changes to public policy. 

Locally, MBCC has been reaching out to support educators, parents, and students as they navigate hybrid and remote learning models to start the new school year. The Let’s Talk Prevention: Actions You Can Take educational program offers age appropriate materials for high school, middle school, and elementary school students across four subject areas: PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) water contamination, household toxins, cell phone radiation, and understanding tap water. The LTP educational materials are free to download from the MBCC website and are designed to be used both in and outside of the classroom. 

As one of the community partners on the URI STEEP Superfund Research Program, MBCC is working on working on developing a monthly series of “PFAS in the Community” virtual presentations starting this fall to bring together STEEP researchers and community members. Although STEEP's study of PFAS in Cape Cod private wells has been on hold due to the pandemic, private well-owners can still sign up to get their wells tested for PFAS. MBCC has also been hard at work to find space for a field office in Hyannis in support of the Silent Spring Institute-led PFAS and Your Health Study, an investigation of the health effects of PFAS exposure from drinking water among adults and children in Hyannis and Ayer. MBCC is a community partner on this study, which is part of a multi-site health study supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The field office is scheduled to open in November 2020. MBCC is also a community partner on the PFAS-REACH study and is helping to engage community members in Hyannis to recruit families with preschool-age children as part of an investigation of PFAS exposures on children's immune systems. While the pandemic has slowed the pace for all of these research studies, MBCC, Silent Spring Institute, and our other research and community partners are carrying on this important work.

Let's Talk Prevention:
Reducing Toxic Exposures

Let's Talk Prevention: Reducing Toxic Exposures is an educational program and tour designed to increase discussions about environmental exposures and chemicals of concern. Many chemicals of concern are industrial chemicals that do not stay isolated inside factories.

Minimizing exposure to chemicals linked with negative health impacts can lessen the burden of disease and improve public health.  

If you are interested in hosting the tour, please contact us at info@mbcc.org.
Call to Action!

Join MBCC and support legislation to ban PFAS in food packaging!
MBCC is calling on supporters to contact their local representatives in support of legislation that would ban PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) from food packaging across the Commonwealth.

Many of the chemicals used in food packaging can leach into food and enter people’s bodies. A 2019 study by Silent Spring Institute revealed that people who ate more meals at home had significantly lower levels of PFAS in their bodies vs. those who consumed more fast food or ate out more often. Chemicals in food packaging also raise health concerns when they are disposed of in landfills as they can enter the soil and groundwater, potentially contaminating drinking water supplies.

Currently, Bill S. 1315 - An Act relative to chemicals in food packaging, and Bill H. 3839 - An Act to ban the use of PFAS in food packaging are two pieces of legislation geared towards removing these harmful chemicals from food packaging in Massachusetts. We are inviting MA residents to voice their support for the passage of these two bills so we can help eradicate the health repercussions linked to exposure to these toxins.

Learn more about MBCC's campaign and tips for contacting your state legislator by clicking here.
About MBCC 

Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) is dedicated to preventing environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy, and changes to public policy. MBCC is the only education and advocacy non-profit in the country working closely with an environmental research organization toward breast cancer prevention. Thank you for supporting our efforts toward breast cancer prevention.

617-376-6222

Post Office Box 202
Franklin, MA 02038
23rd Annual Lesbians & Friends LGBTQ+ Dance

MBCC will host this virtual event on Saturday, October 24th from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., featuring a guest appearance and award presentation to environmental activist, comedian, and actress, Lily Tomlin.

Enjoy music from DJ Shelly Cullen, laughs with guest comedian, Karen Williams, and dance lessons with OUT to Dance’s Liz Nania. Learn to dance the cha-cha, rhumba, salsa, or merengue with no partner needed! This year’s auction will be online and will open on October 17th and close during the dance at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets to attend the virtual event for adults are on a sliding scale of $15, $30, or $45. Tickets for students are $10! You can purchase your tickets by visiting Party for Prevention or by calling the MBCC office at 617-376-6222. 
Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition