Other than harmful UV rays there are many carcinogens products used in everyday living. It is important to identify them and stop using them right away for safe and better health.
Acetaldehyde and Alcoholic beverages Vs breast, oesophageal, oral, colorectal cancer
Acetaldehyde is a flavouring compound present in many beverages and foods. In alcoholic beverages, acetaldehyde may be formed by yeast, acetic acid bacteria, and by coupled auto-oxidation of ethanol and phenolic compounds.
In a recent study, a large collective of different alcoholic beverages (n > 1500) was evaluated. Beer (9 ± 7 mg/l, range 0-63 mg/l) contained significantly lower amounts of acetaldehyde than wine (34 ± 34 mg/l, range 0-211 mg/l), or spirits (66 ± 101 mg/l, range 0-1159 mg/l)
Acetaldehyde is a carcinogen that can promote cancer development through multiple mechanisms, including interference with DNA replication, induction of DNA damage, and formation of DNA adducts.
Aflatoxins or mold Vs Liver cancer
Aflatoxins are toxic byproduct of mold or fungi in/on foods that can cause DNA damage. With prolonged exposure to aflatoxin, cells accumulate DNA mutations and thus are at increased risk of developing into cancer cells. Humans are exposed to aflatoxins by consuming foods contaminated with products of fungal growth.
The highest risk of aflatoxin contamination are corn, peanuts and cottonseed. Aflatoxin-contaminated corn and cottonseed meal in dairy rations results into aflatoxin M1 contaminated milk and milk products, including non-fat dry milk, cheese, and yogurt.
Chronic low-level exposure to aflatoxins, particularly aflatoxin B1, is associated with increased risk of developing liver cancer, impaired immune function, and malnutrition. Acute high-level exposure, which is less common, causes early symptoms of diminished appetite, malaise, and low fever. Later symptoms, including vomiting, abdominal pain, and hepatitis, signal potentially fatal liver failure.
Areca nut or betel nut Vs Oral cancer
Areca nut use increase the risk of developing cancer. Other conditions that have been associated with use of areca nut include cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and asthma, all conditions with a high prevalence in the Asian community in the United Kingdom.
The small pieces of areca nut are mixed with several other ingredients, sometimes including tobacco, wrapped in a betel leaf and chewed , commonly known as paan.
Aristolochic acid (and plants containing it ) Vs Kidney, urothelial cancer
Aristolochic acid are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and nephrotoxic compounds commonly found in the Birthwort (Aristolochiaceae) family of plants.
Chronic exposure to Aristolochia toxins is associated with the development of renal interstitial fibrosis (AAN) and urinary tract carcinoma. Cases of AAN have been reported in France, Spain, Japan, UK and Taiwan.
Health professionals should be aware that in traditional herbal medicine, TCM, Japanese kampo and Ayurvedic medicine, Aristolochia sp. are still in use and regularly replace S. tetrandra, Akebia, Asarum, Clematis sp. and Cocculus sp. in herbal remedies.
Analgesic mixtures containing phenacetin Vs renal pelvis, ureter,kidney parenchyma, urinary bladder
Phenacetin was used as an analgesic and fever reducing drug in both human and veterinary medicine for many years. There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of analgesic mixtures containing phenacetin. Analgesic mixtures containing phenacetin cause cancer of the renal pelvis, and of the ureter.
Estrogens, steroids Vs breast cancer
Estrogen exposure is a major determinant of the risk of breast cancer. The use of adernal steroid maximizes the stimulated estrogenic breast tumor growth cell proliferation by approximately 3-fold and the cell number was increased up to 4-fold.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is volatile, toxic and known carcinogen. It’s main sources in the home include pressed-wood products, cigarette smoke, and fuel-burning appliances. It is often used as disinfectant due to which some topical creams, cosmetics and personal hygiene products contain derivatives of formaldehyde as the active ingredients that prevent the growth of potentially harmful bacteria. It is also used in nail varnish or/and nail hardeners.
In some places like China , formaldehyde is illegally used as food preservatives, which cause vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and in extreme cases can cause death. Foods known to be contaminated include noodles, salted fish, tofu, chicken and beer.
Research studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have suggested an association between formaldehyde exposure and several cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia.