As medicine advances, we know there are certain things from which we should stay away from in order to help increase our chances of not getting cancer. Smoking – check. Asbestos – check. Burnt, grilled meat – check.
But this week, the American Cancer Society (ACS) issued a report of 20 “suspected carcinogens,” that is, things that cause cancer. The organization would like more research done on these items.
Making the list were: lead and lead compounds; cobalt with tungsten carbide; titanium dioxide; welding fumes; refractory ceramic fibers; diesel exhaust; carbon black; styrene-7,8-oxide and styrene; propylene oxide; formaldehyde; acetaldehyde; dichloromethane, methylene chloride (DCM); trichloroethylene (TCE); tetrachloroethylene (perc, tetra, PCE); chloroform; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP); atrazine and shift work.
The Top 5 were:
Styrene
Styrene is used to make plastic and rubber, so you might find it in insulation, foam food packaging, fiberglass, shoes, plastic pipes, automobile parts, and cups. It can also be found in marijuana. The really scary thing is that the Center for Disease Controls (CDC) testing some study subjects last year and 87% of them had styrene in their systems.
Tetrachloroethylene
Thankfully, this is also known as PCE or PERC because otherwise, I couldn’t pronounce it. This chemical compound is used by the dry cleaners, at metal finishing plants, and by taxidermists. It has been linked to esophageal and cervical cancer as well as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium Dioxide can be found in manufacturing facilities, but it may also be found in cosmetics, paints, plastics, paper, ceramics, rubber, varnishes, lacquers, and printing ink.
Diesel Exhaust
Diesel exhaust is everywhere – unless you live where there aren’t any vehicles, it will be hard to avoid.
Shift Work
What? Shift work can cause cancer? Perhaps so. Of course, more research is needed, but the ACS notes a study by Lancet that showed that shift work “involves circadian disruption [that] is probably carcinogenic to humans.” The ACS also estimates that 15 percent of Americans earn their living doing shift work.