Hundreds of different types of cancer are caused by cancer-causing agents, known as carcinogens. These life-threatening agents trigger mutations in the body that lead to the development of cancer. There are harmful substances such as tobacco and UV radiation that are widely known to cause cancer, yet there are hidden carcinogens in the environment that people are unaware of their dangerous effects.
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Highlighted are 10 environmental cancer-causing carcinogens:
1. Tobacco
According to the American Cancer Society, cigarettes lead to about 20% of all cancers and 30% of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Tobacco can cause a variety of cancers that can affect different parts of the body including the mouth, nose, throat and lungs.
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2. Organochlorines
Organochlorines are pesticides that are globally used in agricultural settings since the 1940s. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they have been banned nationally due to health hazards, yet are still used in other countries. They can potentially lead to a variety of cancers such as breast, colorectal, pancreatic, prostate, lung, oral/nasopharyngeal, thyroid, adrenal and gallbladder cancer, and lymphoma.
3. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
According to the CDC, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are chemicals found in resources such as coal, crude oil and gasoline. They are released into the atmosphere with the burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage and tobacco. These chemicals also come from cigarette smoke, vehicular exhaust, roofing tar, occupational settings and pharmaceuticals. The exposure of this chemical can cause breast, skin, lung, bladder and gastrointestinal cancer.
4. Volatile Organic Compounds
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals emitted from the creation of paints, pharmaceuticals and refrigerants. VOCs are also found in the environment and from toxic emissions. The toxic compounds can cause lung, nasopharyngeal, lymphohematopoietic, sinonasal cancers and leukemia.
5. UV Radiation
UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds have been classified as a human carcinogen stated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization. They are known to cause a variety of skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Skin cancer is also the most common form of cancer, affecting one in five Americans.
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6. Radon
The radioactive gas, radon, is a byproduct of radioactive chemicals breaking down in the environment. If radon is breathed in, it can increase the risk of cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, skin cancer, thyroid cancer, various sarcomas, lung cancer and breast cancer.
7. Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral fiber found in rock and soil, known to be used in construction materials. If exposed to the chemical, it can increase the risk of lung, mesothelioma, gastrointestinal, colorectal, throat, kidney, esophagus and gallbladder cancers.
8. Cadmium
Cadmium is a soft, malleable, bluish white metal found in zinc ores and the cadmium mineral greenockite. The metal can also be found in paints, batteries and plastics. It is known to cause lung, prostate, pancreatic and renal cancers.
9. Chromium
According to WebMD, the two types of chromium are the non-toxic trace of the mineral trivalent chromium and the toxic trace hexavalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium can come from chrome planting, welding, leather tanning and ferrochrome metals. It can be known to cause lung cancer in individuals who inhale the carcinogen.
10. Nickel
Nickel can be found in electroplating, circuitry, electroforming and batteries. According to the National Cancer Institute, it can increase the risk of lung and nasal cancers.
Dr. Brett Osborn shared with Fox News Digital that it is important to be aware of your exposure to carcinogens, however, it is also important to reduce inflammation in your body as inflammation can contribute to various cancers. "Nearly all age-related diseases, of which cancer is one, are underpinned by low levels of inflammation," Osborn told Fox News Digital. Osborn recommended eating a low glycemic index diet rich in olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids, strength training, getting enough sleep and taking a probiotic supplement. "Show your body the right signals, and it will respond in kind – you’ll have your health," Osborn said. "Expose it to the wrong signals and you'll turn on the ‘oncogenes’ that cause cancer."
