What Environmental Factors Cause Cancer? A Look Around You

Cancer has existed for centuries. However, since the Industrial Revolution, cancer rates have increased due to increasingly aging populations, tobacco use, and exposure to certain environmental carcinogens. Today’s technological progress comes with hidden costs. Air pollution, heavy metals and industrial chemicals from sources like vehicle exhaust and waste disposal threaten both environmental and public health. These threats have also contributed to cancer disparities between different populations.

In this article, we will explore the environmental factors that increase your risk of cancer and practical steps you can take to reduce your exposure and protect your health.

Understanding Environmental Carcinogens: An Overview

A 2019 study review on the environmental risk factors for cancer suggests that a majority of cancer risks stems from environmental factors. For instance, a 2024 study by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention found that cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which are carcinogenic. Smoking is responsible for 1 of every 3 cancer-related deaths in the United States. Additionally, scientists have discovered about 100,000 chemical substances in our environment, 125 of which are known human carcinogens and several hundred others are potential carcinogens. As a result, individuals working in high-risk occupations such as painting, construction, and the petroleum industry face an increased likelihood of cancer due to regular exposure to these harmful agents. Many of these exposures trigger genetic mutations in cancer pathways, influencing the cancer development process.

Air Pollution and Cancer: What the Evidence Shows 

In the US, there’s increasing evidence that pollution exposure, particularly from particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (N02), is strongly associated with lung cancer, and risk with other cancers such as breast and liver are currently under investigation. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, outdoor pollution and the airborne particulate matter of 2.5µm or less have been classified as a group 1 carcinogen contributing to human lung cancer.

Furthermore, other studies have also linked air pollution to cancer risk. A 2025 Canadian cohort study on Air pollution and its impact on cancer incidence, cancer care and cancer outcomes, involving over 2 million people over 20 years, found that those living within 50 km of wildfires in the past decade had a 4.9% higher lung cancer and 10% higher brain cancer risk. The Sister Study, involving 50,226 women in 11.3 years), reported an increased cancer risk among women using wood-burning fireplaces/stoves for ≥30 days per year. These findings show that chronic exposure to pollutants in the air is a major factor in cancer development, as confirmed by environmental exposure assessments in multiple countries.

Water Contaminants and Their Link to Cancer Risk

Many chemicals used by humans end up in waterways, thereby contaminating drinking water. These cancer-linked pollutants can come from the water source, treatment processes, or even the pipes that deliver it. Key culprits include arsenic, asbestos, radon, farm chemicals, and hazardous waste. Arsenic exposure is the most dangerous and has been linked to liver, lung, bladder, and kidney cancers. Chlorine, while used to purify water, can form by-products tied to bladder cancers, which can potentially increase cancer cases.

Regular environmental testing by authorised agencies is essential to detect and limit these threats, making it a vital step in cancer prevention. Also, regular cancer risk assessment and population health data analysis help identify communities most at risk.

Chemicals in Household Products: What to Watch Out For

There has been growing concern and speculation about which household products may increase the risk of cancer. As a result, many people have become more selective about what they purchase, aiming to reduce their exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. Interestingly, much of this is fueled by social media trends rather than scientific evidence. However, in a 2024 interview with Harvard Health Publishing, Timothy Rebbeck, a professor of cancer prevention at the Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, shared his insights on the real risks associated with household products. According to him, the facts are as follows:

• • Aspartame: This artificial sweetener has limited evidence linking it to cancer, especially at typical consumable levels.
  • Nonstick Cookware: New Teflon-coated pans aren’t strongly linked to cancer, but perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a chemical previously used in its manufacture, is considered possibly carcinogenic.
  • Cleaning products: Some contain chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde, which may be cancer-related. However, exposure levels are hard to measure.
  • Personal care products: Rumors have circulated related to the link between hair dyes and antiperspirant deodorants and cancer risk. Current research does not support a link between deodorants and cancer risk. If you have concerns for exposure, you can limit exposure to parabens and aluminum found in some deodorants. Risk of cancer related to permanent hair dyes has been mixed with a weak link to breast cancer with long exposure. Exposure level seems to be key. 

He advised that a key cancer prevention strategy is to seek safer cancer alternatives if you are often exposed to these cancer risk factors.

Industrial Toxins and Occupational Exposure Risks

Occupational cancer is recognised as a leading cause of work-related deaths, with many cases likely going unreported. In the United States, thousands of people die and many more are diagnosed each year with cancers linked to workplace toxins. The connection between workplace environments and cancer has been known since the 19th century, when exposure to heavy metals such as arsenic, nickel, and chromium during the Industrial Revolution was first identified as a cause.

Workers in industries such as alloy production, smelting, cement manufacturing, and battery production face significant risks due to exposure to metals such as chromium, cadmium, nickel, and lead, substances that have been linked to respiratory cancers and DNA damage. Firefighters, miners, and construction workers are also considered high-risk groups.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has identified over a hundred known or suspected occupational carcinogens, including benzene, asbestos, and ultraviolet radiation. These risks underscore the urgent need for thorough chemical exposure safety testing, the use of proper protective equipment, and stronger workplace health regulations. These workplace exposures are often tracked through community health studies and cancer research initiatives that aim to reduce health inequities in cancer.

Pesticides, Herbicides, and Cancer in Agricultural Settings

Pesticides are substances used to control pests such as weeds, insects, fungi, rodents, and bacteria, with herbicides forming a subset of this group. Their widespread use in agriculture and domestic practice makes human exposure almost unavoidable, affecting pesticide factory workers, transporters, farmers, vendors, and consumers at varying levels.

Pesticides can induce oxidative stress in human cells and alter gene expression through epitranscriptome interactions like DNA methylation and histone deacetylase inhibition, contributing to the cancer development process. Specific chemicals have been linked to particular cancers: glyphosate to non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, alkyl ureas and amines has some evidence of a link to brain tumors, combinations of phenoxy acids and cacodylic acid to prostate cancer, and dieldrin to multiple tumour types in animal studies, even at low doses.

A 2019 study on Agricultural exposures to carbamate herbicides and fungicides and central nervous system tumour incidence in the cohort AGRICAN, involving 118,842 participants, found 381 cases of CNS tumours linked to carbamate pesticide exposure, reinforcing findings from numerous studies that pesticides significantly increase cancer risk, raising environmental justice cancer concerns for agricultural workers. This underscores the urgent need for stronger safety measures, especially for high-exposure groups like farmers and factory workers.

Radiation Exposure: UV, Radon, and Electromagnetic Fields

One source of radiation of concern is the sun because everyone needs some sunshine at some point. The sun produces ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is a type of electromagnetic radiation. Like other forms of radiation, UV radiation is energy that spreads as it travels, so when exposed to the sun or any other form of UV radiation, you are at risk of skin cancer. There are three types of UV rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. Of these three, UVB is responsible for most cases of skin cancer. The growing evidence linking UVB exposure to ultraviolet radiation cancer has prompted increased public health messaging around sun protection.

Radon, on the other hand, is a radioactive gas that is naturally released into groundwater, which can be released into the air when the water is used. Everyone inhales radon daily, however, in very low doses. Its risk of cancer becomes significant when inhaled in very high amounts.

According to current data, scientists estimated that about 21,000 Americans die of lung cancer related to radon exposure yearly, highlighting its importance as a potent risk factor. I

There has been speculation over the link between electromagnetic fields and cancer. Electromagnetic fields exist everywhere with extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation from common sources such as powerlines, household wiring and appliances, but according to the American Cancer Society, there is no current causal link between ELFs and cancer risk. This could be because of its low energy and non-ionising nature, and also because we are exposed to this field at different times, making its study difficult. However, extremely low-frequency fields remain under investigation in cancer research. On the other hand, ionized radiation in high exposure, such as from X-Rays, does have a substantial link to cancer.

Endocrine Disruptors in Plastics and Personal Care Products

Endocrine disruptors are natural or man-made chemicals that interfere with the body’s natural hormonal system, which is controlled by the endocrine gland.

These chemicals are very common and could be found in many personal and household items, including:

• Cosmetics;
• Toys;
• Food and beverage packages;
• Carpet and pesticides;

According to the 2024 study on endocrine disruptors, there could be more than 1,000 endocrine disruptors in the world. The following are the most studied and common among them: Dioxins, Atrazine, Bisphenol, Perchlorate, Phytoestrogens, Phthalates, Polychlorinated biphenyls, etc Studies have indicated bisphenol, parabens, and others may have possible links to cancer. Evidence in human studies is still limited at this time and continues to be under investigation.

Secondhand Smoke and Its Carcinogenic Impact

The link between smoking and cancer is well established, but the question remains: do secondhand smokers inhale just enough to put them at risk? According to a 2024 study by the Centres for Disease Control, more than 7,000 chemicals have been identified in secondhand smoke, out of which70 are known to be carcinogenic. Arsenic, benzene, beryllium, chromium, and formaldehyde are among the identified chemicals.

Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in nonsmokers. Additionally, some research also suggests that secondhand smoke can increase the risk of conditions like brain tumours, nasal sinus cavity cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, leukaemia, Lymphoma, etc. Public health protections are vital in reducing this cancer and its lifestyle risk factors.

How much is safe?

There is no safe level of secondhand smoke; even low levels are deemed unsafe, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fortunately, in the United States, there are federal laws that protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.

Urban vs. Rural Living: How the Environment Shapes Cancer Risk

Urban areas are often characterised by large industrial zones, heavy vehicular emissions, and widespread consumption of highly processed foods, all of which can increase exposure to air pollution and harmful chemical exposure cancer which pose health risks.

Pollutants in the air are responsible for millions of deaths yearly, which are attributed to non-communicable diseases, which are likely to be higher in urban areas.

This cancer disparity case between urban-rural communities was assessed in Ireland using data extracted from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry. The assessment was made using the 18 most common types of cancers. The study discovered that out of the 18 types of cancers studied, only 12 showed variation in the urban-rural setting. At the end of the study, there were 129,380 cancer cases in people resident in urban areas against 121,810 in rural areas.

Urban dwellers often face higher exposure to pollutants, leading to cancer incidence rates that may surpass rural populations. Such disparities require targeted health education cancer campaigns to bridge gaps. The difference in the data above is significant and is an indication to urban dwellers to take precautionary measures against cancer-causing pollutants.

How to Reduce Exposure to Environmental Carcinogens in Daily Life

According to the WHO, about 30 to 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by applying existing evidence-based strategies. Like we previously discussed, it is nearly impossible to avoid exposure to carcinogens, hence our need to learn techniques to reduce our exposure to them. Here are some steps to reduce our exposure;

• Improve indoor air quality.
• Limit processed and charred foods.
• Avoid heating food in plastic containers, especially those containing BPA or phthalates.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove pesticides.
• Filter your water to remove carcinogens in drinking water, like lead and chlorine byproducts.
• Reduce the use of pesticides, etc.

By making these small but consistent changes in our daily habits, we not only lower our risk of cancer but also create a healthier environment for ourselves and those around us. Prevention is not about perfection; it is about making informed choices that, over time, add up to big differences in our overall well-being. After all, the best defence against cancer is an empowered and proactive lifestyle.

Public Health Policies and What’s Being Done About Environmental Risks

Regulations are needed to control both the use of carcinogens and probable carcinogens and our exposure to them. To make this possible, the World Health Organisation, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the European Union have all come up with guidelines to protect the public from exposure to these chemicals.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) sets global air quality guidelines with safe limits for pollutants such as PM2.5, ozone and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). The organisation has also developed a framework to prevent environmental cancers by reducing exposure to harmful substances in air, water, soil and workplaces.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluates the carcinogenicity of chemicals and pollutants and runs the Monographs Programme, which governments worldwide use to guide cancer prevention policies and regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates chemicals under the Clean Air Act, Toxic Substances Control Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. They set the exposure limits for known or suspected carcinogens to protect public health.

The European Union enforces regulations to ensure the safe use of chemicals, requiring companies to identify and manage risks for all chemicals sold, and works to phase out the most toxic substances.

Final Thoughts: Awareness and Action Against Environmental Cancer Triggers

The risk of cancer and our lifestyle are closely tied. While avoiding all environmental carcinogens isn’t realistic, simple changes like improving cancer and nutrition habits can lower your risk. Stay informed and make healthier choices. It is also important to note that environmental exposures not only influence who gets cancer but may also contribute to cancer treatment disparities, especially in communities facing higher exposure levels or limited healthcare resources. Addressing these inequities is essential for both prevention and survival.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which cancer is known as a silent killer?

Primarily, ovarian cancer is known as the silent killer because it usually develops with vague, non-specific symptoms such as bloating, abdominal discomfort or changes in appetite that are easily overlooked.

Are 90% of deaths from cancer caused by metastases?

Approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths result from metastases rather than the primary tumour.

What is the No. 1 cause of pancreatic cancer?

Smoking accounts for 20-30% of pancreatic cancer cases. Other contributors include chronic pancreatitis, long-standing diabetes, obesity, and certain genetic mutations, but none surpass smoking in overall impact.

How does air pollution contribute to cancer risk in different populations?

Some pollutants and compounds, like benzene, cause DNA damage; exposure to these compounds is often higher in urban and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.

How do lifestyle factors, like diet and exercise, interact with environmental exposures to influence cancer risk?

Unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and smoking can potentiate environmental carcinogen effects; healthy behaviours can mitigate risk.

Sources

Cancer Statistics, 2024

The Impact of Industrialization on Malignant Neoplasm Disease of bone in England

Environmental Factors Inducing Cancers

A 2019 study review on the environmental risk factors for cancer

Health Effects of Cigarettes: Cancer

Air Pollution and Cancer

Assessing the Global Impact of Ambient Air Pollution on Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

Air Pollution and Its Impact on Cancer Incidence, Cancer Care and Cancer Outcomes

Contaminated Drinking Water and Its Effect on Cancer

Arsenic and Cancer Risks

Indoor wood-burning from stoves and fireplaces and incident lung cancer among Sister Study participants

Cancer Concerns From Everyday Products

Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer Risk

Hair Products and Cancer Risk

Inhalational Exposure to Heavy Metals: Carcinogenic and Non-carcinogenic Risks Assessment

Herbicide-Related Health Risks: Key Mechanisms And a Guide to Mitigation Strategies

Hazardous Effects of Chemical Pesticides on Human Health- Cancer and Other Associated Disorders

Agricultural Exposures to Carbamate Herbicides and Fungicides and Central Nervous System Tumour Incidence in The Cohort AGRICAN 

UV (Ultraviolet) Radiation and Cancer Risk

Radon and Your Health

Powerlines, Electrical Devices and Extremely Low Frequency Radiation

Do X-rays and Gamma Rays Cause Cancer? 

Endocrine Disruptors

Bisphenols and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Narrative Review of the Impact of Diet and Bioactive Food Components

Associations between phenol and paraben exposure and the risk of developing breast cancer in adult women: a cross-sectional study

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke (Environmental Tobacco Smoke)

Health Problems Caused by Secondhand Smoke

Environment, Climate Change and Health

Risk of Several Cancers is Higher in Urban Areas after Adjusting for Socioeconomic Status. Results from a Two-Country Population-Based Study of 18 Common Cancers

Cancer

IARC MONOGRAPHS ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF CARCINOGENIC HAZARDS TO HUMANS

Risk Assessment for Carcinogenic Effects

Chemicals Strategies