Carcinogens found in the environment are the cause of over 90% of all cancers.  While genetic cancer is perhaps less easy to avoid we can inform ourselves of man-made carcinogens and avoid coming into contact with many of these toxic substances.

Dr Carl Albrecht, Head of Research of the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), while speaking at a press conference in Cape Town said that the role of environmental factors has been largely underestimated.

Factors such as being exposed to tobacco smoke, ultraviolet light and asbestos fibres are generally well known.  However there are others, in particular man-made chemicals in the environment that most people are not aware of and which CANSA is now focussing on.

There are a number of these which are on their way to becoming household names precisely because one would not want them in the home. 

One such chemical is Bisphenol A (BPA) which is used in the manufacture of a variety of plastic products.  This otherwise useful chemical becomes disruptive to hormonal activity, disturbing biological processes at very low concentrations.  Exposure to BPA is considered to increase the risk of breast cancer.

BPA can be released when heating BPA containing plastics.  For example if a baby’s bottle made of plastic containing BPA is heated with milk in it and then fed to the baby it is likely that BPA will have entered the milk during the heating process.

Albrecht says “It is the hard plastic ones you need to beware of. They will say PC for polycarbonate.  The softer plastic ones, like those for bottled water, have not been shown to be harmful.”

Plasticisers are chemicals known as DEHP and DEH and are used to make plastic softer as in clingwraps. Plasticisers have been found to cause cancers in animal studies.

Laboratory tests by CANSA have shown Gladwrap to be free of the chemicals.

Trans fats have been associated with breast cancer and prostrate cancer.

Trans fatty acids form when plant oils are converted into margarine.  They are present in many margarines as well as baked and fried goods.

Albrecht has said that margarines made by Unilever and the SPAR house brand are free of trans fats.  Woolworths foods also do not contain trans fats.

Acrylaminde is a chemical that forms in carbohydrate food at high temperature especially potato crisps and coffee.

It is a probable human carcinogen which is linked to kidney cancer, post-menopausal and endometrial cancers as well as being a neurotoxin.

Dioxins are produced as a by-product of many industrial processes such as waste incineration. Dioxin refers to a group of toxic chlorinated organic compounds which are soluble in fat, so they accumulate in the bodies of humans and animals over time. These are amongst the most toxic chemicals known and are long lived in the environment.

Exposure has been linked to an array of negative health effects including cancer.

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