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Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : February 24, 2015 2:27 PM IST
Humans are surrounded by a pool of carcinogenic substances. From the air you breathe to certain foods you eat, there are hundreds of things that can increase your risk of getting cancer. While a few substances have been identified as carcinogenic, the carcinogenicity of other suspected substances is still debatable. Of course, these small things in your daily life need not necessarily cause cancer, but it's better to be aware of our surroundings.
1. Air pollution: Smoke generated by automobiles having huge engines (trucks, trains, ships, buses, generators and some cars), that run on diesel is actually a cocktail of chemical extracts that have been linked to lung cancer and other rare cancers of esophagus, stomach and urinary bladder. Read more about the health hazards of pollution.
2. UV radiation from the sun and artificial sources: Direct exposure to UV radiation is a common cause of skin cancers. The American Cancer Society mentions that the risk of skin cancer depends on the amount of time spent under direct sun. Factors like taking sun bath on beaches for recreation, living in areas with direct sunlight, sunburns or using artificial UV radiation sources like tanning beds further increase the risk of cancer.Read more about UV advisories to prevent sun burns.
3. Fuel-burning appliances: Household appliances like gas stoves and kerosene heaters are a source of formaldehyde, a strong chemical that is released when fuel is burnt. It is identified as a potential carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
4. Room fresheners: Most products that we use in our home for cleaning purpose actually work to deteriorate our health. Best example of this is air fresheners/room fresheners. The sweet fragrance of room fresheners may energize you when you enter your home. But do you know what chemicals they contain? The fragrance is usually because of formaldehyde or napthelene. And, both of them are carcinogenic.
5. Food preservatives: All packaged foods contain some kind of preservatives which are added to increase their shelf-life. And, according to IARC, additives like sodium nitrite and nitrates are probable carcinogens that increase the risk of bowel cancer.
6. Coffee: Although you may have heard that a cup of coffee can help you to prevent your risk of cancer, it's not completely effective. Extensive review of studies on carcinogenicity of caffeine has shown that coffee plays a dual role. Coffee, or precisely, caffeine has been linked to both increase and decrease in growth of cancerous cells. The kind of effect it may have on our cells depends on its concentration, the type of cells it targets and whether it is used with other carcinogenic substances like alcohol. Read more about negative effects of drinking coffee.
7. Cigarettes/Tobacco: Every smoker by now knows that smoking tobacco or cigarettes increase their risk of developing cancer. But, that doesn't mean non-smokers are safe. Even second-hand smoke or passive smoking is a known human carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC a branch of the World Health Organization), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US National Toxicology Program. Here are few tips to quit smoking. Read more facts about passive smoking.
8. Alcohol: With every peg or shot of alcohol you gulp (beyond the standard guidelines), your risk of developing cancer increases. IARC recognizes alcohol not just as a carcinogen but also as a co-carcinogen, a substance which enhances the effect of a carcinogen in developing cancer. Meaning, the chances of getting cancer are increased if alcohol is taken with other carcinogens like cigarettes.
References:
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