Chemicals permeate our daily lives—from the food we eat to the clothes we wear, the places we sit, and the environments we work in. These constant exposures to chemicals in the environment may elevate our risk for cancer. We asked Dr. Iris Udasin, a professor and medical director at the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute Clinical Center at Rutgers University, about the role this exposure plays in contributing to cancer risk, how we can reduce our own risk and more.
New Jersey Family: What are the leading environmental risks for cancer?
Dr. Iris Udasin: One of the most common contributors is the burning of fossil fuels, such as cars sitting in traffic, or factories emitting pollution into the sky.
Smoking cigarettes, and being exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke, is another common risk factor. Thirdhand cigarette smoke, which is the residue left on surfaces such as furniture and clothing, can also cause issues. While we don’t know if thirdhand smoke can definitively cause cancer, it could cause issues with asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis and other respiratory problems.
Sun exposure increases skin cancer risk.
There are also forever chemicals found in plastics such as plastic water bottles and takeout containers.
Processed meat with nitrates in it is cancer-causing. There are many food products that are marketed to look like they are healthy, but are ultra-processed, such as turkey deli meat.
NJF: What are some environmental risks in our homes and communities that might increase our risk for developing cancer? How can we decrease our exposure?
Dr. Udasin: Homes need to be checked for radon.. Long term exposure to radon can cause lung cancer.
Note: For more information on radon testing, visit www.epa.gov/radon/find-radon-test-kit-or-measurement-and-mitigation-professional
Your water should be tested. It’s good to use water filters to filter out whatever particles and sediments you can.
We should use less plastic to reduce our exposure to forever chemicals. Use reusable glass water bottles, glass food storage containers, and don’t heat up plastic in the microwave.
Wear sunscreen and a hat. There are bathing suits with long sleeves that offer more protection.
Because of exposure from vehicles, we should walk instead of driving when we have the ability. In theory, electric cars are wonderful, but we need to have more places to charge them.
Avoid processed foods and drinks as much as you can. I wouldn’t tell people not to ever eat a hot dog, but you don’t want to enjoy a hot dog every day because it’s processed – it’s got chemicals, and even more chemicals to disguise the chemicals. We don’t even know some of the chemicals in certain processed foods.
There’s a recent study showing tampons carry chemicals like arsenic and lead. We don’t know what the effects of long-term tampon use may be, but any exposure to heavy metals is something to be aware of.
Another thing I just learned is that certain dental flosses might have forever chemicals in them, too.
ScreenNJ is a statewide service that provides education about cancer prevention and detection to the community and professionals. ScreenNJ supports NJ residents to obtain cancer screening through navigation and mobile health services regardless of their ability to pay. For more information about ScreenNJ visit screennj.org.
NJF: Do certain groups face a higher risk of environmental cancers? If so, what factors contribute to this disparity?
Dr. Udasin: Environmental cancers are not limited to minorities. Having said that, some communities are more likely to be located closer to factories that are causing pollution, or in urban areas with a lot of cars and traffic. Community-based risk factors are more about socioeconomic status as opposed to race in New Jersey.
NJF: Are there specific occupations where the risk is higher for environmental cancers? And are there certain cancers that are more likely to develop?
Dr. Udasin: Asbestos exposure is a risk for people who work with cars, in older buildings, or on ships. Asbestos exposure can increase the risk for lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Those who work as uranium miners have increased lung cancer risk. Mining in general is associated with a lot of respiratory issues and cancer because uranium produces alpha particles, which are implicated in lung cancer.
People who work with metals, such as welders, can be exposed to hexavalent chromium, which is known to be a cause of lung cancer. It is also found in paint and pigments.
Many studies have found that firefighters have an elevated risk of all cancers. In fact, the number one cause of death among firefighters is occupational cancers. This is due to the multitude of exposures that firefighters have, such as the combustion products of fire, the possible byproducts of what was burnt in the fire, and the chemicals in firefighting foam.
ScreenNJ is a statewide service that provides education about cancer prevention and detection to the community and professionals. ScreenNJ supports NJ residents to obtain cancer screening through navigation and mobile health services regardless of their ability to pay. For more information about ScreenNJ visit screennj.org.
NJF: Is radiation something we should be worried about when it comes to cancer risk? Does this occur during cancer treatment? How can we mitigate this risk?
Dr. Udasin: Nowadays, X-rays have far less radiation than before. Still, a doctor should have a good reason for ordering an X-ray. For example, a lot of people are doing calcium-scoring CT scans for heart health, but there is a lot of radiation exposure with that test. It may be better to have an exercise stress test, which can give you the same insight into your heart health.
Radiation is often considered a risk factor for a second cancer diagnosis in survivors. However, in these cases, the benefits typically outweigh the risks. This is something that patients and survivors should talk to their doctors about.
NJF: Does radiation play into things like standing in front of the microwave, using a cell phone and being surrounded by WiFi?
Dr. Udasin: There is speculation that wireless earbud use may increase the risk of temporal lobe cancers. There are also some studies that suggest a link between phones being carried in pockets and testicular cancer.
NJF: We know there are class action suits that are ongoing due to 9/11 and The World Trade Center. What have experts learned about the environmental risks and cancers developed by individuals who were near Ground Zero?
Dr. Udasin: It’s interesting what we’re seeing in our World Trade Center population: Why are we not seeing lung cancer as the most common cancer? It’s because fewer people are smoking. When you think about lung cancer and asbestos, smoking plus asbestos exposure has a huge multiplicative effect. If you just have asbestos exposure and you didn’t smoke, there’s an increased risk of cancer, but it’s not nearly what it is in smokers with asbestos exposure.
One of the things that we learned that really surprised us is every cohort that we looked at had markedly increased prostate cancer after World Trade Center exposure. The obvious cohort was the New York City Fire Department, because they had data from before 9/11 and after 9/11. I work in the non-New York City Fire Department Responder Program, which means I work with New Jersey police, firefighters and construction workers. In our program, we’ve seen an excess of prostate cancer. In the people who live in the area around World Trade, there was clearly an excess of prostate cancer in the people who live in the area.
Most recently we talked about cancer in women. We were able to measure endocrine disruptors in the polluting materials after the 9/11 fire. Burning plastic can produce endocrine disruptors, making you more likely to get something like breast cancer or uterine cancer. We were able to show that uterine cancer was more likely than not caused by World Trade Center exposure.
ScreenNJ is a statewide service that provides education about cancer prevention and detection to the community and professionals. ScreenNJ supports NJ residents to obtain cancer screening through navigation and mobile health services regardless of their ability to pay. For more information about ScreenNJ visit screennj.org.
NJF: Should people who feel they have been exposed to environmental toxins talk to their doctor about cancer screenings?
Dr. Udasin: If I really think that someone had an environmental exposure, in addition to regular cancer screenings, as a doctor I might encourage them to get their screenings earlier because I would be concerned about the exposure. It absolutely is a reason for discussion with your doctor.
Lung cancer screening tests can find smaller and smaller lesions, and if you find stage one lung cancer, it is usually easily treated. That’s huge to be able to do that.
Breast mammograms have certainly improved, so research continues to make them better and easier to read, and less likely to miss signs of breast cancer.
Dr. Iris Udasin is a professor and medical director of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute at Rutgers University.
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