EWG's TOP 5 CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICALS TO AVOID FOR CANCER PREVENTION

BY: Environmental Working Group TOP 5 CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICALS TO AVOID FOR CANCER PREVENTION Cancer-causing chemicals can lurk in almost any everyday product you can imagine: candy, toys, clothes, hair dyes, pet food and more. Reducing your exposure to items that have potentially harmful ingredients is a great way to safeguard your health. This can seem a daunting task when you’re shopping. So EWG is offering a list of what we consider the five worst cancer-causing chemicals in our daily lives to avoid. 5 CONTRIBUTORS TO CANCER RISK. Gordon Water Systems Can help with Number 2.

1. TOXIC “FOREVER CHEMICALS” IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS The highly toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS can be found in a vast array of consumer products and industrial applications. Even very low doses of PFAS in drinking water have been linked to increased risk of testicular and kidney cancer, in addition to other health harms. WHAT YOU CAN DO Avoid anything stain-, wrinkle- or water-resistant, such as nonstick pans, stain-resistant upholstery, spill-proof children’s products and toys, rainproof outerwear and waterproof and long-lasting cosmetics. Check out EWG’s Guide To Avoiding PFAS Chemicals for more tips.

2. CONTAMINANTS IN YOUR TAP WATER What’s in your drinking water? EWG’s Tap Water database highlights how drinking water quality varies widely across the U.S. Yours might be contaminated with one or more contaminants linked to cancer, including nitrates, arsenic, PFAS and uranium. WHAT YOU CAN DO Buying a home water filter is the most reliable option for improving water quality at home. What's in your water? Find out here https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/

3. ARTIFICIAL FOOD COLORS Two in five food products contain artificial coloring chemicals that can possibly harm your health, research has found. Red 3, has been linked to cancer, but is allowed in thousands of foods marketed to kids, including some types of popcorn, hot chocolate mix, candy, snack mix, plus many strawberry- or cherry-flavored foods.Titanium dioxide, makes foods a brighter white, and it may also increase the risk of cancer. It’s found in popular candy, as well as coffee creamer, sauces and dressings. WHAT YOU CAN DO Study labels and stay away from ingredients with names like Red 3 and Blue 1. These chemicals might also appear with “Lake” in their name, such as Lake Allura Red. EWG’s Food Scores database rates more than 80,000 foods in a simple, searchable online format, helping shoppers find products without these potentially unsafe ingredients.

4. PESTICIDES IN PRODUCE Lowering exposures to pesticides from produce also reduces a person’s mortality risk from cancer, according to research published by scientists from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. A diet that includes fruits and vegetables is essential for health and lowering your cancer risk. But nearly three-quarters of produce sold in the U.S. contains residue of potentially harmful pesticides, according to EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce?. That doesn’t include pesticides found on other food, such as oats, rice, wheat and beans. WHAT YOU CAN DO Choose organic fruit and vegetables, whenever possible. Consult EWG’s Dirty Dozen? list of fruits and vegetables that have the highest traces of pesticides, and try to buy organic when possible to lower the risk of exposure to these chemicals. Our Clean Fifteen? list reveals the items with the least pesticide residue, and they’re OK to buy non-organic if necessary.

5. HAIR COLORANTS AND RELAXERS Many studies point to a connection between hair treatments and cancer, particularly hair colorants and relaxers. Some ingredients that have been or still are used in hair dyes are considered “reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens,” according to the National Toxicology Program. WHAT YOU CAN DO More research is needed, but avoiding hair dyes and relaxers is a great step for cancer prevention. EWG’s Skin Deep? database rates more than 80,000 personal care products in a simple, searchable online format, helping you find products without potentially unsafe ingredients.