The Most Common Carcinogens To Know & Avoid

Carcinogens are any materials linked to increased cancer rates. Most carcinogens are objects that cause damage to cells in the human body. We might not notice every time a cell is damaged, but it can end up causing problems. Any time a cell has to repair itself or grow a new cell, there is a small chance of the cell mutating into cancerous cells. Products that cause cancer repeatedly damage cells, significantly increasing the possibility of a mutated cancerous cell arising. Many commonly used products can actually be carcinogenic. Here are the top carcinogens to be aware of.

Ultraviolet Radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and other sources are a leading cause of skin cancer. As the rays of the sun touch the skin, they cause damage to the skin cells. Any time you get a tan, your risk for skin cancer increases slightly, and having a sunburn raises this risk even more. This carcinogen is almost impossible to avoid altogether, but lots can be done to lower one's risk.

Whenever possible, avoid staying in the sun for longer than fifteen minutes without protection. Never tan in a tanning bed or outside. Keep in mind UV radiation can easily pass through windows and thin clothing, so you may need to wear sunscreen even when not in direct sunlight. UV rays also reflect off of other surfaces, so exposure is possible while standing in the shade. To block UV rays, wear a strong sunscreen with an SPF of at least thirty and reapply it regularly.

Formaldehyde

Most individuals are just familiar with this substance because it is used as a common preservative for the corpses used in science labs. However, this substance also shows up in many other places. The material is also used to make particle board, furniture glues, fabrics, insulation, lotions, soaps, carpeting, paper towels, tissues, and insulation.

For a long time, there was a lot of debate about whether or not formaldehyde was dangerous. Though it is true some naturally exists in the human body, many researchers started to link it to cancer. Inhaling it regularly causes inflammation and oxidative stress. Beginning in 2011, the National Toxicology Program formally declared formaldehyde a known carcinogen. Unfortunately, it is hard to avoid this substance altogether, but you can keep exposure to safe levels by selecting solid wood furniture, carefully reading labels on personal care products, and regularly opening doors and windows.