The US list of toxins that could lead to cancer has just been updated with more than 240 agents finding a place on the list. The list consists of two broad categories: the first category has substances that are known carcinogens (cancer-causing causing agents) and the second category consists of substances that could be categorized as carcinogenic after sufficient tests have been conducted to prove this fact.
Along with commonly known cancer-causing agents like tobacco smoke, chemicals, drugs, industrial toxins, alcohol and processed meat, people have to be careful about exposure to lesser-known carcinogens like Aristolochic acid (found in some herbal remedies) and formaldehyde (found in a wide range of manufactured goods like new home products, cars and so on).
Some toxins that may be “reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens” include Styrene (found in trace amounts in disposable cups), Captafol (a fungicide), Cobalt-Tungsten carbide (found in hand metal tools), O-nitrotoluene (used in manufacture of dyes), Riddelliine (a plant compound that may be found in the milk of grass grazing animals) and certain kinds of inhalable glass wool fibers.
Although it is impossible to avoid exposure to cancer-causing toxins completely, experts recommend that exposure to such toxins must be kept to a minimum. Awareness of what these toxins are and where they are present can help reduce the risk of exposure.
