Many people are scared of cancer because the number of cancer patients is increasing, which is an undeniable fact. But do you know what substances in daily life can cause cancer?
What are Carcinogens?
Carcinogens, as the name suggests, are substances that can cause cancer in humans. Broadly speaking, carcinogens should be called carcinogenic factors, including any chemical, physical, biological substances, as well as lifestyle and working methods that can increase the risk of cancer in humans.
In 1965, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a subsidiary of the World Health Organization, was established. After its establishment, the organization began its work on identifying carcinogens. Every year, the IARC publishes authoritative information and timely updates on carcinogens. Eventually, the IARC established the concept of carcinogens and divided them into 4 categories.
Category 1 Carcinogens
Category 1 carcinogens refer to substances that have a clear carcinogenic effect. Common examples in our daily lives include tobacco, alcoholic beverages, betel nut, aflatoxin, asbestos, etc.
Category 2A Carcinogens
Category 2A carcinogens refer to substances that have a high likelihood of causing cancer. In fact, they are substances that have been proven to have a clear carcinogenic effect in animal experiments, but the evidence from population studies is still limited. Common examples in daily life include acrylamide, high-temperature fried foods, high-temperature cooking fumes, disrupted sleep patterns, inorganic lead compounds, etc.
Category 2B Carcinogens
Category 2B carcinogens refer to substances that have a low likelihood of causing cancer. The carcinogenic potential of these substances is not strong enough in both animal experiments and population studies. Common examples in daily life include chloroform, bracken fern, DDT (a type of insecticide), nitrobenzene, gasoline (vehicle exhaust), non-ionizing radiation (RF electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones, computers, WiFi devices, etc.).
Category 3 Carcinogens
Category 3 carcinogens refer to carcinogens that are currently unclassifiable. There are two main types of unclassifiable carcinogens: one refers to insufficient evidence from animal experiments and population studies; the other refers to sufficient evidence from animal experiments but no carcinogenic effect in population studies. Common examples in daily life include caffeine, xylene, saccharin, tranquilizers, static electromagnetic fields, organic lead compounds, etc.
Category 4 Carcinogens
Category 4 carcinogens refer to substances that may not be carcinogenic to humans. In other words, there is insufficient evidence from relevant studies to prove their carcinogenicity. Currently, the only substance listed by the World Health Organization is "caprolactam".
How to Deal with Carcinogens
1. For Category 1 and 2A carcinogens, we should try to avoid them as much as possible. The government has also implemented public health policies to reduce the exposure level of the population. In our daily lives, we should also try to avoid contact with these substances.
2. For Category 2B carcinogens, there is currently no need for the government to implement public health policies, and personal protection is not mandatory. For example, there is currently no sufficient evidence to prove that non-ionizing radiation has a carcinogenic effect, so the government has not implemented public policies claiming that non-ionizing radiation affects health and restricting its use. However, some authoritative organizations still provide recommendations for individuals to reduce exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones, such as reducing usage time and using hands-free devices to make calls.
3. As for Category 3 and 4 carcinogens, we don't need to worry too much because current research has not found that they can cause cancer.
Tips
Regardless of the category of carcinogens, the carcinogenic potency is not related to the classification of the carcinogens. The classification of carcinogens only tells us the level of evidence for their carcinogenicity. The carcinogenic potency is related to the characteristics of the carcinogens themselves and the level of exposure (dose) to the carcinogens. Therefore, having a few drinks or smoking a few times does not mean you will get cancer. However, long-term and excessive drinking and smoking significantly increase the risk of cancer. Quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, and avoiding exposure to carcinogens can indeed reduce the risk of cancer.
