Some products in your home may contain chemicals or other agents that could possibly increase your risk of getting certain types of cancer. To keep yourself and your family as healthy as possible, you should refrain from using any of the following products.

 

Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners were developed with the goal of offering healthier alternatives to sugar, but many of these products have been linked to cancer. Acesulfame K can increase the chance of developing tumors and may also cause pregnancy complications. Bladder cancer risks are thought to increase from the consumption of saccharine. Aspartame may cause skin cancer.

 

Processed Meats

Meats that are treated with additives, preservatives and other harmful chemicals to make them last longer and enhance their taste should be avoided. Many studies have shown how these meats can lead to the development of colon cancer, stomach cancer and other potentially fatal cancers if they are consumed regularly. Examples of processed meats include hot dogs, bacon and lunch meats.

 

Refined Carbohydrates

Foods that are made with processed grains known as refined carbohydrates can increase cancer risks. These foods include white bread, white pasta and white rice. Cookies, cakes and other sweet pastries are also usually made with refined carbohydrates. To avoid foods with these potentially harmful carbohydrates, you should consider eating more brown rice, oats and whole-grain pasta and bread.

 

Products with Benzene

Benzene is a possible cancer-causing chemical that is found in cigarettes and car exhaust, but some household products have also been shown to contain benzene. Stove-top cleaners and other cleaning solutions that have benzene listed in their ingredients should be avoided. Benzene is additionally found in some paints, glues and dyes. Even certain skincare products contain benzene, and recalls have been issued for some of these products.

 

PVC Shower Curtains

Even though the evidence linking PVC to cancer is inconclusive, you should still consider using shower curtains that don’t contain this synthetic polymer of plastic. PVC is made with a gas known as vinyl chloride, and this gas is also found in tobacco smoke. PVC can cause liver cancer along with brain cancer, lung cancer and leukemia.

 

Insecticides 

Pest-control products are usually safe to use occasionally, but overexposure to insecticides often increases cancer risks. Many insecticide sprays are made with organophosphate, organochlorine and carbamate, and frequent exposure to these chemicals could damage the central nervous system and cause different forms of cancer.

 

Some Weed Killers

Glyphosate is a potentially cancer-causing chemical that is found in certain sprays that are formulated to kill weeds. The chemical may also cause cancer in animals along with additional health problems, such as fatty liver disease, pregnancy complications and birth defects. If your chosen weed killer contains glyphosate, you should only use it minimally.

 

Certain Scented Candles

To reduce production costs, some scented candle makers have resorted to using petroleum, paraffin and potentially harmful perfumes to create their products. These agents cause scented candles to emit smoke that is similar to cigarette smoke or vehicle exhaust fumes, which may increase lung cancer risks.

 

Products with Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a chemical that is sometimes used to make furniture and other wood products. Scientific research has shown a link between formaldehyde and cancer development. If any of your current furniture pieces or other wooden items contain formaldehyde, you should consider replacing these products or at least airing out your home and using an air conditioner or dehumidifier regularly to control humidity levels and formaldehyde exposure.

 

UV Sunlamps 

Sunlamps are often used by people who suffer from a seasonal depression disorder known as SAD, but some of these lamps emit light that is similar to the sun’s cancer-causing rays. If you choose to use a sunlamp, you should get one that doesn’t emit UV light and instead uses fluorescent light. However, if you believe that a sunlamp that emits less harmful UVB light would be the most beneficial for you, it’s best to talk to a health care professional first.

 

Talcum Powder 

Talcum powder is made to produce certain types of baby and adult powders, but using products with this powder regularly may cause a variety of cancers to form. Women who use talcum powder regularly are particularly susceptible to ovarian cancer. Evidence suggests that talcum powder can also be a contributing factor to lung cancer.

You can make your home a safer place for everyone by eliminating or at least limiting the items that may cause cancer. There are many safer alternatives to some of the potentially cancer-causing products that you use, and switching to these items can help you live a longer life.

 

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Med Communications