EBN- Cancer is a disease in which some cells in the body grow uncontrollably and can spread to other parts of the body.
Cancer causing agents, known as carcinogens, can come in many different forms and cause mutations in the human body that lead to the development of cancer disease,” says Dr. John Ortel, chief medical officer at Invita Medical Centers in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The doctor explained that while some causes, such as tobacco use and ultraviolet radiation, are widely known for their harmful effects, there are many hidden carcinogens in the environment that are just as harmful.
The doctor provided a list of some of these hidden carcinogens, their sources, and the types of cancer they cause.
1. Tobacco
This carcinogen comes from cigarettes. Ortel noted that tobacco can cause cancer disease of the mouth, nose, larynx, trachea, esophagus, lungs, stomach, pancreas, liver, kidney, ureter, bladder, colon, rectum, and cervix, as well as leukemia.
2. Organochlorine
Organochlorines are pesticides that have been used in agriculture around the world since their introduction in the 1940s, despite their high toxicity.
Although it is banned in several countries due to health risks, it is still used in others.
Organochlorine compounds can cause breast, colon, rectum, pancreas, prostate, lung, mouth/pharynx, thyroid, adrenal and gallbladder cancer diseases, as well as lymphoma, according to Ortel.
3.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemicals found in coal, crude oil, and gasoline, according to the CDC. They are released into the environment through the burning of coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust, roof tar, and pharmaceuticals.
Exposure to these chemicals can cause cancers of the breast, skin, lung, bladder, and digestive tract.
4. Volatile organic compounds
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals emitted by the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants, among other products. They are also found in industrial solvents, petroleum fuels, and dry cleaning agents.
Ortel warned that VOCs are commonly found in air, groundwater, cigarette smoke, car emissions and gasoline.
It can also cause lung cancer, nasopharyngeal, cancer disease, lymphoma, sinus cancer, and leukemia.
5. Ultraviolet rays
The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ultraviolet radiation from the sun and tanning beds as a human carcinogen.
These rays can further cause a variety of skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
6. Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas, a byproduct of uranium, thorium or radium that decays in rocks, soil and groundwater, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
When radon gas seeps into buildings and homes, people can inhale it, increasing the risk of leukemia, lymphoma, skin cancer, thyroid cancer, various sarcomas, lung cancer and breast cancer, Ortel said.
7. Asbestos
Asbestos, a mineral fiber found in rocks and soil, has also historically been used in building materials.
Although some uses are banned, it can still be found in insulation, roofing and siding panels, vinyl floor tiles, heat-resistant fabrics and some other materials.
Ortel warned that exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, gastrointestinal cancer, colon and rectum, larynx, kidney, esophagus and gallbladder cancer.
8. Cadmium
Cadmium is defined as “a soft, ductile, bluish-white metal found in zinc ores and, to a much lesser extent, in cadmium green.
It can be found in paints, batteries and plastics, Ortel said. The metal can be a factor in lung, prostate, pancreatic and kidney cancer.
9. Chrome
There are two types of this trace metal, one is trivalent chromium, which is harmless to humans. The other, hexavalent chromium, is considered toxic.
Sources of harmful chromium include chromium plating, welding, leather tanning, and ferrochrome minerals.
Inhaling chromium, a known human carcinogen, has been shown to cause lung cancer, especially in steel workers.
10. Nickel
Nickel is also a heavy metal known to be a carcinogen, and is found in electroplating, circuits, electroforming, and batteries.
