DID YOU KNOW .................

No breast implant has ever been proven safe and effective. When marketed in 1962, the FDA did not have jurisdiction over medical devices. With the Medical Devices Act of 1976, they were "grand fathered" in.

Dow Chemical and Dow Corning both used the same laboratories, the same research scientists, and shared the same data in the testing of silicones, the compounds used in breast implants.

Dow Chemical promoted, distributed and sold Dow Corning breast implants all over Europe, Australia and other foreign countries through their company, LaPetit.

Some silicone breast implants were covered with industrial grade polyurethane foam which flaked off and broke down into 2,4 toluenediamine (TDA) a know carcinogenic.

Swedish studies have proven that silicone passes the placental barrier, passing the effects of silicone to the children.

20 years ago at Dow Corning researchers found that some forms of silicone - including the type used in the manufacture of breast implants - were biologically active and alter the immune system.

In their search for molecules that would be antivirals, they found that low molecular weight silicones are excellent adjuvants, materials that stimulate the immune system.

Research as early as the 1970's showed that silicone alters the male reproductive function in mice, rats and rabbits, and showed estrogenic changes in the uterus of female rats.

They also tested silicones as insecticides and found that it killed cockroaches.

Silicone gel has been shown to cause carcinomas in rats and these same cancers have shown up in women with silicone breast implants.

Heavy metals such as aluminum and platinum salts were used as catalysts in turning the liquid silicone to gel. Silica was used as a filler, and toxic chemicals such as benzene, chlorplatinic acid, polyvinyl chloride, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene were used in the manufacture of breast implants.

All silicone implants "gel bleed" through the envelope. When salesmen complained that their samples appeared oily, they were told to clean the samples with soap and water in the nearest washroom before taking them in to show the doctors.

In 1985, when they were still assuring women their implants would last a lifetime, Dow Corning was receiving letters from plastic surgeons canceling orders for their implants because of problems of spontaneous ruptures and inconsistency of shell thickness and gel.

When asked what they were doing about problems of contracture and gel migration, Dow told their customers "with crossed fingers" they had a study underway, but was concerned that one day they would be asked to show the results of that study.

Dow has spent millions on PR to improve their image on this issue - money that could be spent to improve their defective product and provide medical care for women harmed by them.

lake-atitlan.com

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