DEVELOPMENT OF CANCER: ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES
Environmental causes are believed to contribute to a vast majority of different cancers. Below are some suspected environmental cancer-causing agents.
• Aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, benzo (a) pyrene, dibenzo (a) anthracene and 1-nitropyrene are produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Benzene is used to make other chemicals which are then used to make resins, rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, pesticides, nylon and synthetic fibres. It is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke. Benzene is a cancer causing agent that may lead to leukemia and cancers of other blood forming organs. These hydrocarbons are known to be breast carcinogens.
• Cadmium, mercury, lead and other heavy metals, from environmental exposure.
• Chloroform (chlorine vapors produced in hot showers) is another risk factor. In studies, animals that ate or drank water containing chloroform developed cancer of the liver and kidneys, indicating that this chemical may be a possible cancer risk.
• Chronic exposure to electromagnetic frequencies omitted by power lines, unshielded video, computer terminals, television, radio waves and electric blankets all increase the risk of developing cancer.
• Asbestos is the name given to six fibrous minerals that occur naturally in nature. However, asbestos is tough and fibrous and is commonly used in building materials, friction products such as brake pads, heat resistant fabrics, packaging and even in some talc products. Asbestos has been classed as a ‘carcinogen’ that may cause cancer in some people. In fact, a combination of cigarette smoking and asbestos dramatically increases one’s chances of developing lung cancer.
• Excessive exposure to gamma rays can cause various forms of cancer.
• Excessive ultraviolet exposure from the sun and sun lamps.
• Formaldehyde is a proven carcinogen.
• Iatrogenic causes from x-rays and chemotherapeutic drugs (unless used in conjunction with the amino acid – glutamine).
• Industrial and agricultural chemicals and pesticides (including chlordane and heptachlor). Chlordane is a man-made pesticide that was used on crops such as corn and citrus. It was banned in the US in 1988, however it can stay in soils for over twenty years. It causes serious health problems and small amounts of chlordane given to mice leads to liver cancer.
• Many types of cough medicine may be carcinogenic (high chloroform content).
• Pink fluorescent light increases the risk of some forms of cancer. White fluorescent light is thought to be safer.
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is strongly suspected of causing some forms of cancer (particularly brain tumours).
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