Cancer Causing Agents

Cancer Causing Agents

Consumers need to be aware that many gentle products can be deceiving causing rashes, allergic reactions, and even cancer.

Some of these cancer causing agents come from Chemicals. There are many different kinds of cancer-causing chemicals. A few consist of the compound Arsenic. Arsenic is a pesticide that causes cancer. This pesticide is found in Sodium Arsenite and is used as a weed killer. Rachel Carson, one of the first researchers to research cancer causing chemicals, stated, " the association between arsenic and cancer in man and animals is historic" (222). Another common chemical found in everyday life is Ethylbenzene and Xylene known as BTEX. It is a cancer-causing chemical found in a range of oil-based products including lubricating oil, diesel and petrol. Another common place this substance is found is in wells. Researchers, Rebecca Le May and Kym Agius of Brisbane stated that this cancer causing chemical was found in eight different exploration wells for coal seam gas in central Queensland. Another reason for environmental caused cancer is carcinogens. Carcinogens are man-made cancer-producing products. They have been part of our environment for centuries. Rachel Carson, researcher, claims, " with the advent of man the situation began to change, for man, alone of all forms of life, can create cancer-producing substances, which in medical terminology are called carcinogens" (219). The most common reaction of coming in contact with each of these chemicals is obviously cancer. It had been noticed that skin cancer could form among workers exposed to arsenic fumes in copper smelters and tin foundries. It was realized that workers in the cobalt mines and uranium mine were subject to disease of the lungs. Although, researchers have also found Smelters for silver and lead poured arsenic fumes into the air, drifting over to the countryside leading to hair-loss and thickening of the skin to the animals fed on that vegetation as a reaction.

Users of many house-hold products are un-aware of the deadly ingredients that may be in a product they are using. For instance, studies show, more than half of products tested for safe Cosmetics contained dangerous dioxane formaldehyde, or both. This includes the known brand Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion. They contained both these cancer causing products (Hubbard). Parents need to be aware that their children and/or babies may come in contact with these poisonous ingredients while using them. According to The Cancer Association of South Africa, another deadly ingredient in beauty products is Hydroquinone. Hydroquinone is a common substance in shampoos, hair dyes, perfumes, skin lighteners, soaps and baby bath products. This substance is known to cause cancer ("The Beauty Industry"). Other house-hold use products that contain