Written by Poorva Chavan | Updated : February 3, 2017 3:10 PM IST
Many a study or two or claim that seemingly harmless things we use everyday might contain carcinogens. The reports are inconclusive and the jury is still out, but here's a list of the things that are supposed to be cancerous and why. Please use your own judgement to gauge whether you want to continue using these things or not.
Not only bread but burning or charring of foods leads to the formation of acrylamide, which is claimed to be cancerous!
Taking chewing gum
Wearing tight bras and under wire bras has been linked to breast cancer.
Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG) is a major component of Chinese food and is linked to stomach cancer.
As chips are fried at high temperatures, it leads to the production of acrylamide which is carcinogenic.
This might sound dubious, but a study has established the link between drinking hot tea and oesophageal cancer.
They contain aspartame and a few studies have linked aspartame with cancer , but a few studies have declared sweeteners as extremely safe!
Plastic bottles contain BPA, a carcinogen which leaches into the water and is linked to breast cancer.
Microwave radiation is supposed to be cancerous, but a few studies also claim otherwise.
Remember the Maggi uproar? We are exposed to lead everyday in some or the other form. Many studies claim that lead is a carcinogen.
Cosmetics are full of compounds like lead, parabens and sulphates that are supposed to cause cancer.
Nowadays, all sanitary napkins convert liquid into gel and the chemicals that are used in the sanitary napkins are supposed to cause cancer of the bladder and the uterus. However, these is no conclusive proof.
Diapers too contain chemicals that convert liquid into gel and chemicals like dioxins which are carcinogenic. However, there's no proof to it and you don't really want to let your child run around without it.
Popping the pill (OCP) increases your risk of breast and cervical cancer.
When you work the night shift, your circadian rhythm gets disturbed and this change is supposed to be carcinogenic in nature. A study also claimed that nurses working in night shifts have an increased breast cancer risk. However, there is no concrete proof that night shifts can cause cancer.
Toothpastes contain triclosan, which is a cancer causing agent.
Toys often contain pthalates that are carcinogenic. Many brightly coloured toys are also painted with paints that have lead, which is also a carcinogen.
Silver fillings that are used to fill your dental cavities contain 50% mercury, which is a potential carcinogen.
Burning charcoal or wood produces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are carcinogenic in nature linked with skin, stomach and liver cancer. When meat and other nitrogen containing foods come in contact with PAHs, they get converted into nitrated PAHs which are even more harmful!
Various studies claim that deoodorants or anti-perspirants contain carcinogens that can be absorbed into the body and can cause cancer.
Although various studies claim that talking on the phone for long can give you cancer. No study has proved that non-ionising radiation produced by mobile phones causes cancer, yet.
Not just lung cancer, smoking can also cause cancer of the nose, mouth, larynx (voice box), trachea, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, cervix, bone marrow and blood.
A study had claimed that shampoos contain a modified form of coconut oil called cocamide DEA. It is used for thickening and foaming agent which is present in almost all soaps and shampoos and is supposed to be carcinogenic.
Air pollution is classified as a carcinogen according to the International Agency for Cancer Research (ICAR). A large number of people are exposed to air pollution increasing their risk of lung cancer and other disease like asthma.
Alcohol is also classified as a class 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Cancer Research (ICAR) and is responsible for breast, colorectum, larynx, liver, esophagus, oral cavity, and pharynx cancers.
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