Long-term exposure to some household cancer causing products can threaten your health. Other factors play a role, including your genetic background. Every time, the National Toxicology Program issues a Statement on Carcinogens households substances that are known or supposed to cause cancer.
Asbestos, radon, and chemicals found in tobacco are cancer-causing chemicals (carcinogens). Other causes of gene changes include obesity, hormones, chronic inflammation, and a lack of exercise.
Even if your house is very cleaned it can also cause cancer. Some of the materials used to build your home may put you and your family at risk. It may be as a result of the cancer causing materials used to build it or some common household product that you used often may also threaten your safety and health at home.
What is household Cancer-Causing products?
Household cancer chemicals are commonly found in our day to day product that we use to clean, control pests and maintain general hygiene. These products help us keep healthy conditions in the house.
Here are 4 household chemical products that are toxic and cancer-causing things
Although, you may come into contact with chemicals at home every day. Some are safe, while others are not. For you to become sick or have cancer, a certain amount of a harmful chemical must enter your body. Harmful chemicals can get into your body if you breathe, eat, or drink them or if they are absorbed through your skin
1. Dry cleaning
Dry cleaning your cloth is very good if you want to keep your cloth from getting a shrink, distort, or lose when washing in water. But there is a cancer chemical called Perchloroethylene (PERC) inside the dry cleaning liquid you use.
PERC is toxic, may damage the central nervous system, liver, and kidneys. It can also cause respiratory failure, memory loss, confusion, and dry and cracked skin.
Here is also evidence that long-term exposure may lead to certain types of cancer.
To limit your risk of Long-term exposure to PERC, you have to spread your cloth outside after dry cleaned. And if you notice too much smell you can wash it again or take it back to the cleaners and ask them to re-clean it.
You can also change the way you wash and dry cleaned your cloth, instead use wet cleaning, liquid carbon dioxide cleaning, or silicone-based cleaning machines if you want.
2. Pesticides
If you use pesticides substances to prevent or destroy cockroach, insect repellants, rat and mouse poisons, disinfectants, bug sprays, and some swimming pool chemicals may be toxic. Exposure to some pesticides is known to be cancer-causing products. According to the national institute of health and toxicology.
Different kinds of pesticides have different toxicities and some of the common pesticides include:
- Algicides to control algae
- Antifouling agents to kill organisms attached to boats
- Fungicides to kill fungi
- Herbicides to kill weeds
- Insecticides to kill insects
- Rodenticides to control mice and other rodents
You can try to avoid pesticides by washing your hand after using them.
And if you think you have swallowed or absorbed pesticide through your skin contact your local health provider as soon as possible.
3. Diesel
According to, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Breathing diesel fuel vapors for a long time can cause cancer. If you use a home diesel generator and you expose yourself to vehicle exhaust or you live near a busy highway may increase your chances to get cancer. To stay safe, limit your reach from automobiles that use diesel and avoid skin contact or avoid breathing the fumes, and don’t let your children play near gas stations, idling vehicles, or busy highways
4. Air Fresheners
Any households item that contains fragrances in cleaning products, particularly in air fresheners, that may react with ozone to form formaldehyde and particulate matter are toxic. According to the National Cancer Institute, Long-term exposure to formaldehyde can cause Cancer.
There are many types of fragrances products that have different health consequences, they affect reproductive health and may cause respiratory problems such as asthma. You can limit your use or make your own homemade air fresheners and choose fragrance-free products to avoid formaldehyde.
Other Cleaning supplies containing toxic substances include:
- Aerosol spray products, including health, beauty, and cleaning products
- All-purpose cleaners
- Antibacterial cleaners
- Chlorine bleach
- Dishwashing liquid
- Drain cleaners
- Furniture and floor polish
- Laundry detergent
- Mold and mildew removers
- Oven cleaners
- Rug and upholstery cleaners
- Toilet bowl cleaners
- Window and glass cleaner
5. Deodorants and Antiperspirants
Certain deodorants have cancer-causing chemicals such as aluminum chlorohydrate. If you use deodorant more often, it may increase your chances when you apply it to your skin the compounds go directly into the bloodstream and the organs of the body and may cause cancers, that’s why breast cancers have become so prevalent in Western Society.
Many antiperspirants also contain parabens, which act like estrogen in the body and aids the growth of cancer cells. The exposure to parabens has also been linked to nausea, depression of the central nervous system, and damage to the digestive system.
To reduce your risk, limit your use of this product or make your own anti-sweating products.
Household chemical products can cause health problems for you or your children If not properly stored or used. Fortunately, you can limit your risk. Read all labels and follow instructions when using and storing these products.
Additional resources on cancer
- Cancer (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
Information about cancer, including links to news, fact sheets, press releases, and related health topics, from a federal institute that investigates the interplay between environmental exposures, human biology, genetics, and common diseases to help prevent disease and improve human health.
- Cancer (Also called: Carcinoma, Malignancy, Neoplasms, Tumor)(National Library of Medicine)
Curated links to current consumer health information on cancer. These English and Spanish web resources include background information; diagnosis and tests; prevention and risk factors; treatments and therapies; living with cancer; related issues; specifics, genetics; health check tools; videos and tutorials; statistics and research; clinical trials; journal articles; key terms; relevant organizations and agencies; targeted information for children, men, women and seniors, and patient handouts.
- Cancer Prevention and Control(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Information on cancer prevention, federal data and statistics, policies and practices, and resources for survivors and caregivers.
