Exposure to a wide variety of natural and man-made substances in the environment accounts for at least two-thirds of all the cases of cancer in this country.
These environmental factors include lifestyle choices like cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, lack of exercise and excessive sunlight exposure. Other factors include exposure to certain medical drugs, hormones, radiation, viruses, bacteria, and chemicals that may be present in the air, water, food and workplace.
It's no surprise that pesticides, radiation, certain chemicals, and second-hand smoke are hazardous. These environmental factors can raise a person's risk of getting cancer. Regulatory control, safe work environments, and product testing can help reduce these risks, but the link between cancer and the environment remains.
Understanding what factors in the environment affect our health is difficult, and it is often hard to separate fact from fiction. Here are the facts on some key environmental exposures:
Magnetic Fields: Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are emitted from devices that produce, transmit, or use electric power. Some sources of EMFs are power lines, transmitters, and household electronics like televisions, microwave ovens and electric blankets. Over the past 15 years, there have been several studies of children and adults evaluating their residential exposure to electric and magnetic fields in relation to risks of brain cancer, leukemias and lymphomas, and breast cancer. Most findings have been inconclusive or negative.
- If you are concerned about the affect of EMFs on your health, you can take the following steps:
- Avoid standing too close to microwaves, computers, and other devices that emit EMFs
- Turn off devices such as electric blankets when you're not using them
- Discourage children from playing near power lines
Radon: Radon is a radioactive gas released from normal decay of uranium in rocks and soil. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and is associated with 15,000-20,000 lung cancer deaths annually. Radon can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, and also can be released from building materials or from water obtained from wells. About one in 15 U.S. homes are estimated to have radon levels that exceed the standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - 0.4 picocuries per liter.
- If you suspect you may have high levels of radon in your home, your best defense is to test for it. Short- and long-term tests are available, but experts recommend using a long-term test as it gives a more accurate reading. Tests can be purchased at home improvement stores. Also, when purchasing a new home, ask your realtor to check radon levels during home inspections. The EPA recommends taking action to reduce radon in homes with high levels (see above). Scientists estimate that lowering radon levels can reduce lung cancer deaths by 2-4 percent.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (Secondhand Smoke): Scientists estimate that secondhand smoke is responsible for 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Reports also conclude that children of parents who smoke have more respiratory symptoms and acute lower respiratory tract infections, as well as reduced lung function. Separating smokers and nonsmokers within the same space, like a restaurant, may lower but does not eliminate a nonsmoker's exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition, while most research has focused on lung cancer, secondhand smoke has also been linked to other cancers, including nasal sinus cavity, cervix, breast and bladder.