We encounter and expose to several chemicals every day that have the potential to raise our risk of cancer. Research shows that even while these exposures usually occur in little amounts, they can pile up and overlap to significantly raise our chance of developing certain cancers (1).
Food, cleaning supplies, and cosmetics supplied in the US frequently contain several chemicals that are prohibited in other countries. Having covered environmental toxicity for years, I think that more needs to be done in the United States to regulate these substances.
There are easy things we can do to reduce our exposure to chemicals that cause cancer while we press lawmakers to enact chemical rules that will protect us.
The following five significant adjustments will help lower the amount of chemicals that cause cancer in your home:
1. Get a high-quality water filter.
Tap water contaminants that can increase our risk of cancer include hexavalent chromium, arsenic, PFAS, and disinfection byproducts. The Environmental Working Group estimates that carcinogens in tap water are responsible for over 100,000 cancer cases in the United States, even though many of these chemicals are uncontrolled in the country (2).
It is advisable to look for a water filter that can efficiently eliminate the impurities present in your tap water. The Environmental Working Group has made this easier by creating a nationwide tap water database (3). This database allows you to search for the toxins in the drinking water in your area by zip code. You can discover which kind of water filter is most effective at removing those certain contaminants.
2. Eat organic food whenever you can.
Research has shown that those who consume more organic produce have lower levels of pesticides in their bodies (4). Many of the pesticides used in the United States increase our chance of developing certain malignancies (5).
Prioritizing fruits and vegetables that are most likely to absorb pesticides, such as strawberries, leafy greens, peaches, pears, nectarines, apples, grapes, bell and hot peppers, cherries, blueberries, and green beans, might help reduce the cost of eating entirely organic, as eating organic can be expensive.
Avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, onions, papaya, frozen sweet peas, honeydew melon, kiwi, cabbage, mushrooms, mangoes, sweet potatoes, watermelon, and carrots are among the crops that are least likely to absorb pesticides.
3. Avoid heating meals in plastic containers.
Around 25% of the more than 10,000 chemicals used in the production of plastics are potentially dangerous for endocrine disruption, reproductive harm, organ damage, cancer, or environmental toxicity, according to a 2021 study by Swiss experts (6).
There are 901 chemicals that are permitted to come into contact with food in the United States; out of the more than half of the chemicals that the researchers found to be potentially dangerous and uncontrolled.
Even in extremely small concentrations, at least 1,000 of these dangerous chemicals—some of which are carcinogens—can be detrimental. The study found that 39% of the chemicals used in the production of plastics have not been thoroughly investigated to see whether they are dangerous.
Toxic chemicals can seep into food and into our systems when plastic containers are heated. When a product is labeled “microwave safe,” it indicates it will not melt or fall apart in the microwave, but it does not necessarily mean it will not leach dangerous chemicals into food when heated. Plastic crockpot liners are another example.
For this reason, I recommend using glass, metal, or ceramic while heating meals.
4. Switch to toxic-free personal care and cosmetics.
PFAS, (7) Per- and polyfluoralkyl compounds, or “forever chemicals,” formaldehyde (8), phthalates (9), parabens (10), 1,4-dioxane (11), and heavy metals (12) are among the chemicals that can increase our risk of cancer that are included in cosmetics and personal care items.
Certain compounds, like parabens, might be included on ingredient lists, but not all of them are. For instance, formaldehyde is frequently omitted from lists. Yet, it can be released when other chemicals commonly found in hair products combine and are heated during styling. The presence of “fragrance” in an ingredient list may indicate the presence of numerous unlisted compounds in the product. Phthalates are one example of this, which is utilized to extend the duration of a fragrance’s residual power on our skin and hair.
Fortunately, several independent organizations, such as MadeSafe and the Healthy Living App, certify products as nontoxic and devoid of hazardous substances.
It’s not necessary to start over and discard all your merchandise. Waiting until you’re about to run out of something, like mascara, hand cream, or shampoo, and using it as an opportunity to choose a new, nontoxic update will make this process less intimidating.
5. Stop smoking, outdoors and indoors.
Breathing in air that contains benzenes allows them to enter the body. By far the most common source of benzenes in the US, cigarette smoke accounts for half of the exposure of the population. One of the most important strategies to protect yourself from carcinogens that might cause leukemia and many other cancers is to stop smoking. Don’t start smoking if you don’t already.
6. Begin to filter the air inside.
Since most Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, the air in our houses can become contaminated with carcinogens. These carcinogens come from gas stoves, cleaning products, and outdoor pollutants.
By routinely using an indoor air filter, we may simply lower the number of carcinogens in the air in our homes. Best filters are HEPA filters. Although HEPA systems can be costly, it is possible to make a low-cost DIY version by attaching HEPA filters to a box fan.
7. Seek out pesticide alternatives.
Numerous cancers, including those of the prostate, leukemia, lymphoma, and children, have been related to pesticide use. Avoid leaving food out and wipe up spills and crumbs, keep your house dry (use a dehumidifier if you have a basement), and keep the foundation free of debris, plants, and soil to help keep insects at bay. Without using chemicals, mulch, landscaping materials, and homemade vinegar and/or soap solutions are effective weed suppressants.
8. Remove your shoes before entering the house.
Since people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, it is not a simple decision to wear shoes inside the home (13). There is more than just dust and filth from people and pets losing skin and hair within your house. A third of it comes from outside, either trampled in by those inconsiderate shoe bottoms or blown in.
Drug-resistant infections, such as difficult-to-treat hospital-associated infectious germs, are among the microorganisms found on shoes and floors. You may see the filth on your shoes in a different perspective when you consider the cancer-causing poisons from asphalt road residue and the endocrine-disturbing chemicals used in lawn care.
The data indicates a substantial correlation between the amount of lead in the soil in your yard and the amount of lead within your house. Dirt kicked in from your yard or tracked in on your shoes and the furry paws of your cute dogs is most likely the cause of this link.
The connection emphasizes how important it is to guarantee that objects from your external surroundings remain precisely where they are.
There aren’t many drawbacks to living without shoes in terms of environmental health, other from the possibility of stubbed toes. As we are all aware, prevention is always preferable to treatment, and for many of us, that means leaving our shoes at the door.
Shoes are required for foot support. Simple: just keep a pair of indoor shoes that you never wear outside.
To Wrap Things Up.
Safeguarding ourselves from the subtle yet cumulative risks of cancer-causing chemicals demand proactive lifestyle adjustments. While advocating for stronger regulations, we can take charge of our well-being with these practical steps.
By incorporating these changes, we fortify our defenses against cancer-causing agents, paving the way for a healthier, safer future. Advocacy, paired with personal responsibility, shapes a robust strategy in our quest for a cancer-free environment.
Sources |
- Exposure to environmental chemicals and cancer risk: epidemiological evidence from Japanese studies – PubMed (nih.gov)
- EWG Tap Water Database | Chemical Mixtures May Interact and Raise Cancer Risks
- EWG Tap Water Database
- Organic diet intervention significantly reduces urinary pesticide levels in U.S. children and adults – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Exposures to pesticides and risk of cancer: Evaluation of recent epidemiological evidence in humans and paths forward – Cavalier – 2023 – International Journal of Cancer – Wiley Online Library
- Deep Dive into Plastic Monomers, Additives, and Processing Aids | Environmental Science & Technology (acs.org)
- What are PFAS? – EHN
- Potential Carcinogens in Makeup Cosmetics – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Urinary phthalate exposures and risk of breast cancer: the Multiethnic Cohort study – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Urinary parabens and breast cancer risk: Modification by LINE-1 and LUMA global DNA methylation, and associations with breast cancer defined by tumor promoter methylation status – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Mechanistic Considerations in 1,4-Dioxane Cancer Risk Assessment – PMC (nih.gov)
- Evaluation of heavy metals in cosmetic products and their health risk assessment – PMC (nih.gov)
- Indoor Air Quality | US EPA
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