Brussels, 08/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - Almost one in ten women in Europe will develop breast cancer. A press release indicated that bringing down this figure cannot be achieved without reducing exposure to certain chemicals, according to a report presented on Wednesday 2 April at the premises of the European Parliament in Brussels. The report, “Breast Cancer and Exposure to Hormonally Active Chemicals” was written by professor Andreas Kortenkamp, head of the Centre for Toxicology at the University of London. Professor Kortencamp coordinated a significant number of international research projects on endrocrine disrupting chemicals between 2002-07. These projects received more than €20 million in EU funding. He said that there is now "compelling evidence that natural and pharmaceutically applied hormones play a role in breast cancer”. Since 2005, 200 international scientists have signed the Prague Declaration, which expresses scientific concerns related to the risks posed to health by chemicals in everyday use, particularly those that interfere with the human hormone system. The new report represents an appraisal of existing research and calls for action to reduce people's exposure to the chemicals that disrupt hormones and mimic oestrogen. Over the past 20 years, breast cancer has increased dramatically throughout Europe, with incidence in some countries increasing by more than 50% or even 100% in the last 20 years. (O.J.)