Household items and everyday habits, often overlooked, maybe quietly fueling the cancer epidemic. Health experts have emphasized the urgent need to address these lesser-known risks.

Rising Incidence of Cancer

Recent warnings from the World Health Organization’s cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), paint a grim picture of the future. With new cancer diagnoses projected to surge by 77% by 2050, surpassing 35 million cases annually, urgent action is imperative (1).
Lifestyle and environmental factors are primary contributors to this alarming trend, with tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and air pollution identified as major culprits (2). However, the insidious presence of carcinogens in everyday items adds another layer of concern.

Unsuspecting Cancer Threats in Household Staples

Plastic bottles, commonly used for drinking water, may harbor microplastics (3), while the habit of steeping tea in plastic bags or using white-colored mayonnaise in food preparation can introduce harmful chemicals like epichlorohydrin, elevating the risk of cancer (4).

Even seemingly innocuous modern conveniences come with risks. The use of plastic utensils in microwave ovens or non-stick cookware may expose individuals to endocrine-disrupting agents (5), potentially fueling cancer development.

In the realm of personal care products, nail polish and removers contain hazardous chemicals such as toluene, formaldehyde, and acetone, recognized carcinogens (6). Similarly, hair products infused with formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents pose significant cancer risks, particularly those used for hair straightening (7). It is important to choose beauty products to minimize exposure to carcinogens and safeguard against potential health complications.

Urgent Need to Curb Use of E-Cigarette and Hookah

Meanwhile, the rising popularity of e-cigarettes among youth poses a new set of challenges. Chemicals found in e-cigarettes, including nicotine, formaldehyde, and heavy metals, significantly increase the risk of lung cancer and other respiratory ailments (8). Similarly, flavored hookahs, favored by many young adults, contain a cocktail of harmful chemicals like diacetyl, carbon monoxide, and cadmium, heightening the risk of cancer and other health issues (9).

There is an urgent need to address these emerging trends to curb the rising tide of cancer cases, particularly among the younger population.
In conclusion, heightened awareness of everyday carcinogenic exposures, coupled with proactive measures to minimize risks, is paramount in the fight against cancer. By adopting healthier lifestyle choices and advocating for safer consumer products, individuals can contribute to reducing cancer incidence and improving overall well-being.

References:

1. Global cancer burden growing, amidst mounting need for services
   
   https://www.who.int/news/item/01-02-2024-global-cancer-burden-growing–amidst-mounting-need-for-services




2. The Development and Causes of Cancer
   
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9963/#:~:text=The%20carcinogens%20in%20tobacco%20smoke,%2C%20esophagus%2C%20and%20other%20sites.




3. Micro(nano)plastics pollution and human health: How plastics can induce carcinogenesis to humans?
   
   Kumar R, Manna C, Padha S, Verma A, Sharma P, Dhar A, Ghosh A, Bhattacharya P. Micro(nano)plastics pollution and human health: How plastics can induce carcinogenesis to humans? Chemosphere. 2022 Jul;298:134267. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134267. Epub 2022 Mar 14. PMID: 35301996.




4. Dietary habits contributing to breast cancer risk among Iranian women
   
   Mobarakeh ZS, Mirzaei K, Hatmi N, Ebrahimi M, Dabiran S, Sotoudeh G. Dietary habits contributing to breast cancer risk among Iranian women. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014;15(21):9543-7. doi: 10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.21.9543. PMID: 25422253.




5. PTFE-coated non-stick cookware and toxicity concerns: a perspective
   
   Sajid M, Ilyas M. PTFE-coated non-stick cookware and toxicity concerns: a perspective. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2017 Oct;24(30):23436-23440. doi: 10.1007/s11356-017-0095-y. Epub 2017 Sep 14. PMID: 28913736.




6. DNA damage and somatic mutations in mammalian cells after irradiation with a nail polish dryer
   
   Zhivagui M, Hoda A, Valenzuela N, Yeh YY, Dai J, He Y, Nandi SP, Otlu B, Van Houten B, Alexandrov LB. DNA damage and somatic mutations in mammalian cells after irradiation with a nail polish dryer. Nat Commun. 2023 Jan 17;14(1):276. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-35876-8. Erratum in: Nat Commun. 2023 Mar 14;14(1):1424. PMID: 36650165; PMCID: PMC9845303.




7. Use of Straighteners and Other Hair Products and Incident Uterine Cancer
   
   Chang CJ, O’Brien KM, Keil AP, Gaston SA, Jackson CL, Sandler DP, White AJ. Use of Straighteners and Other Hair Products and Incident Uterine Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2022 Dec 8;114(12):1636-1645. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djac165. PMID: 36245087; PMCID: PMC9949582.




8. Cancer Prevalence in E-Cigarette Users: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional NHANES Study
   
   Chidharla A, Agarwal K, Abdelwahed S, Bhandari R, Singh A, Rabbani R, Patel K, Singh P, Mehta D, Manaktala PS, Pillai S, Gupta S, Koritala T. Cancer Prevalence in E-Cigarette Users: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional NHANES Study. World J Oncol. 2022 Feb;13(1):20-26. doi: 10.14740/wjon1438. Epub 2022 Feb 8. Retraction in: World J Oncol. 2022 Dec;13(6):417. PMID: 35317331; PMCID: PMC8913014.




9. A Review of the Pulmonary and Health Impacts of Hookah Use
   
   Patel MP, Khangoora VS, Marik PE. A Review of the Pulmonary and Health Impacts of Hookah Use. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2019 Oct;16(10):1215-1219. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201902-129CME. PMID: 31091965.

Source-Medindia