Solvent ‘may raise cancer risk for women’

A SOLVENT found in paints, dyes and fuel additives may raise the risk of breast or ovarian cancer among women on hormone replacement therapy or taking the contraceptive pill, it was claimed yesterday.

New research showed that the chemical, ethylene glycol methyl ether (EGME), boosted the activity of hormones used in the treatments by up to 10 times.

This would increase the danger for women threatened by hormone-sensitive breast and ovarian cancers, triggered by the action of oestrogen or progesterone.