Exposure to several substances found in the home can
increase the risk of cancer, which is the second leading cause of death among
adults and children in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society, environmental
factors including tobacco, chemicals, infectious diseases, and radiation are responsible
for three-quarters of all cancer deaths in the U.S. While many adult cancers can
be traced to these environmental factors, the causes of most childhood cancers
are unknown. Like many environmentally related diseases, cancer takes a greater
toll on African-Americans, who are more likely to develop and die from cancer
than persons from other racial and ethnic groups.
According to the American Cancer Society, smoking, unhealthy
diet, and physical inactivity play a greater role in determining cancer risk
than exposure to trace levels of pollutants in food, air, and drinking water.
However, the degree of risk from chemical exposure depends on the concentration
and duration of exposure. Individuals exposed to high concentrations of cancer-causing
substances bear a significantly higher risk of developing cancer. At the same
time, widespread exposure to low concentrations of carcinogens can increase
the risk of cancer across the population as a whole. For environmentally related
cancers, ten or more years typically pass between exposure to cancer-causing
substances and detectable cancer.
Several substances that may be found in or
around the home, such as radon, some pesticides, asbestos, formaldehyde,
and arsenic, are known carcinogens. Becoming aware of these substances
and their potential risks is the first step in reducing potential
exposures.
Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by
decaying uranium, is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
EPA estimates that radon is responsible for approximately 21,000 lung cancer
deaths per year. Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer
in those exposed to radon.
Radon gas enters homes through dirt floors, cracks in concrete
walls and floors, floor drains, and sumps. Any home may have a radon problem—new
or old, well-sealed or drafty, with or without a basement.
Because radon is colorless and odorless, it is necessary
to measure radon levels in the home in order to determine the extent to which
it is present. EPA provides guidance regarding the risks associated with different
levels of exposure and recommends corresponding
corrective actions.
Exposure to some pesticides also may increase a person’s
risk of cancer. Pesticides are commonly used in and around the home to control
insects, termites, rodents, and fungi, as well as to disinfect. According to
surveys cited by EPA, 75 percent of U.S. households use at least one pesticide
product over the course of a year, and 80 percent of most people’s exposure
to pesticides occurs indoors. During 2001, the American Association of Poison
Control Centers reported that nearly 50,000 children under age six were exposed
to pesticides.
The health impact from exposure to pesticides varies depending
upon the level and duration of exposure. Immediate impacts may include skin,
eye, and respiratory tract irritation; headaches; dizziness; visual disorders;
and memory impairment. Many pesticides are known to cause cancer in animals,
and some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. Some studies have
demonstrated a link between childhood cancers and pesticides.
Exposure to asbestos also increases the risk of developing
cancer. Asbestos can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of the chest and
abdominal linings), and asbestosis (irreversible and potentially fatal scarring
of the lung). As is the case with radon, smoking significantly increases the
risk of cancer in those exposed to asbestos. The health impacts of asbestos
typically appear 20 to 30 years after exposure.
Asbestos may be found in a number of locations in the home.
Until the 1970s, many building products and insulation materials contained asbestos,
including insulation on steam and furnace pipes, ducts, and boilers; vinyl,
rubber, or asphalt floor tiles; soundproofing or decorative material sprayed
on walls or ceilings; and roofing, shingles, and siding. Today, asbestos-containing
products must be labeled.
As a general rule, asbestos that is in good condition does
not pose a risk and should be left undisturbed. If disturbed, asbestos material
may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs and increase
the risk of disease.
Other substances around the home that may increase the
risk of cancer include formaldehyde (found in pressed-wood products), which
is used largely for new construction, and arsenic
(present in most pressure-treated wood manufactured before prior to 2002), which
was widely used for decks and playgrounds.
