Epidemiology professor Katherine Reeves, associate dean of Graduate and Professional Studies in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, traveled to France this summer to participate in an international evaluation of a certain class of commonly used chemicals and their potential for causing cancer.

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Reeves traveled to France in June to join a working group for the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization. The team looked at studies on the carcinogenicity of three chemicals: butyl benzyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and diisononyl phthalate, substances common in everyday items ranging from PVC and cable coatings to dust and personal care products.

The findings, published in the journal The Lancet, indicated that, based on laboratory and animal studies, these chemicals are “possibly carcinogenic,” but more research is needed regarding their impact on humans.

“There is definitely support from these laboratory studies and these animal studies that these agents can act in ways that we know can be carcinogenic,” Reeves said. “However, the study in humans is really insufficient. And so, there’s an opportunity for future research to hopefully give more information within humans as to whether or not these agents are carcinogens.”

Many of the human studies focused on any connection between phthalates and breast cancer, but the small number of these studies limits drawing conclusions. Reeves said people at risk should be “concerned, but not overly concerned,” about phthalate exposure. She added if someone’s family or personal history suggests they could be susceptible to the disease, to limit their exposure to the chemicals, along with other steps.

“I always say you’re much better off trying to change your risk factor profile for things that we already know are related,” she said. “These are things like maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol intake and exercising; even just walking every day can help reduce breast cancer risk.”

Reeves, one of 23 scientists from 13 countries who participated in reviewing research on phthalates, called her time in France a “fantastic professional experience.”

“I think the work we did was incredibly important and very thorough and thoughtful, and people really worked hard to evaluate these agents in a way that was fair and rigorous,” she said. “Just as a scientist, it was a great experience to be able to be part of that process.”