Melanie Duchin

Since World War II, synthetic chemicals have played a growing role in industry and the manufacture of consumer goods. Some people have blamed ongoing exposure to these chemicals for the concurrent rise in cancer rates. In the following viewpoint, Melanie Duchin argues that the human body absorbs environmental chemicals, and that these substances are an important cause of cancer. She asserts that corporations have successfully influenced public discussion to focus attention on genetic and lifestyle causes of cancer rather than environmental factors. Duchin is an activist with Greenpeace, an environmentalist organization.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How have the odds of contracting breast cancer changed over the decades, according to Duchin"
2. Who does the author blame for not raising the issue of environmental carcinogens"
3. What criticism does Duchin make of government regulation...